Macedonia Still Seeking Masterminds Behind Attack on Parliament

As the trial of 30 people accused of participating in the violent storming of Macedonia's parliament in 2017 continues, the Prosecution and Interior Ministry say they are still seeking the possible masterminds behind the attack.

"One part of the investigation has already resulted in raising charges and has entered court procedure, but that does not mean that other investigations are not being carried out also, which could reach the inspirers of the events," the Interior Ministry told BIRN Thursday.

The trial in the case, which has been dubbed "Bloody Thursday", began on Wednesday in the Skopje Criminal Court.

Thirty people, including the former interior minister and police chief Mitko Cavkov, five opposition MPs, police employees and activists are charged with "endangering constitutional order and safety", by participating in or being part of the logistics behind the events.

The prosecution says the defendants were part of four groups: attackers, Interior Ministry employees, MPs and organizers, who all acted in coordination to storm the parliament building and cause mayhem, with the goal of assassinating the current Prime Minister, Zoran Zaev.  

After the first session ended on Wednesday, the main prosecutor, Vilma Ruskovska told journalists that they were still gathering evidence on the possible order-givers, and that more charges may follow.

"The prosecution cannot work based on assumptions or hearsay," Ruskovska told reporters. "When we have hard evidence about the organizers, or the order-givers as you [the media] are calling them, they will be charged. Thus far, only those persons for which we have hard evidence have been charged."

The defence lawyers on Thursday in their opening speeches before the...