Several hundred citizens participated in today’s protest march for Frosina Kulakova, who about three weeks ago was tragically run over on a pedestrian crossing at the Boulevard Partizanski Odredi opposite the Universal Hall in Skopje. The march, led by Frosina’s family and organized by the “Who’s Next?” initiative, began here today.
Protesters in the front row held up two banners, which they carried throughout the evening. In red letters on a black background, the banners read “We are the voice of Frosina” and “Dirty money–deadly consequences”.
From the accident scene, the participants proceeded to the government building, passing by without stopping. They then made their way to the legislative body, the National Assembly.
Protesters were chanting “Justice for Frosina,” “Justice for Viktorija,” “Justice for Teodora,” shouting the names of young victims of traffic accidents in recent years.
The demonstrators passed by the government building, without stopping, making their way directly to the Assembly where a three-minute moment of silence was held for young Frosina, with everyone present turning on the lights of their mobile phones to create a “sky full of stars.”
From there, the procession headed to the Appellate Court Skopje, where several speeches by the protest organizers were delivered. Twenty-three-year-old Anastasia Pavlovska emphasized that “behind this movement is not a political party, but young people who are tired of living in a country where no one respects them and where they are deliberately killed.”
She asked “how many more lives must be lost in this system before we collectively say ‘enough’.”
“enough of the police protecting the rich and powerful, enough of doctors demanding bribes to treat us, enough of the judiciary selecitvely reviewing evidence, enough of education that kills critical thinking among people in order to control us” said anastasija in front of the appellate court.
Then she asked again, “Who would still accept to live in a system like this, a system we all pay out of our own pocket to destroy us, a system that from the moment we are born, works to enslave us, mentally, spiritually, culturally, physically?”
According to Anastasija Pavlovska, young people not only struggle to make progress here, but also to survive. She urged everyone present to ask themselves how many times they’ve crossed the road when the light was red and how many times they have stood in front of a pedestrian crossing.
„Each of us must be aware of our own actions and then demand responsibility from the institutions we pay. What we are asking for from these institutions is not science fiction. It is in their work description and census. Deep and fundamental changes of this corrupt system are NEEDED,” SAID ANASTASIJA.
At the end, she addressed the institutions: “We will not give up until we see real changes in the system.”
Frosina lost her life on the night of January 29, 2025, fifteen minutes before midnight when Vasil Jovanov, under the influence of alcohol, driving fast and passing a red light hit her directly, killing her on the spot.
At the time of the accident, Vasil had already been convicted of drug trafficking, but instead of a prison sentence, he received six months in a penal institution as a juvenile. The public prosecutor appealed the decision to the Appellate Court. After the tragic accident and after the big protest two weeks ago in Skopje, the court decided to accept the appeal and sentenced Jovanov to three years and nine months in prison.
Jovanov is yet to stand trial for the case in which Frosina lost her life. Her family directs all their anger at the justice system, specifically the judiciary and the prosecution.
