North Macedonia prosecutor seeks removal of MP’s immunity

A North Macedonia court called on parliament Thursday to strip the immunity from prosecution of a conservative party lawmaker and former parliament speaker, over accusations he was involved in organizing the storming of parliament in 2017.

Trajko Veljanovski is accused of being among five people suspected of organizing the violence in parliament during a dispute over the election of a new parliament speaker. More than 100 people were injured, including lawmakers and journalists.

Prosecutors filed charges late Wednesday against the five, including Veljanovski and former prime minister Nikola Gruevski, for posing a “terrorist threat to constitutional order and security.”

The court ordered two of the five, both former ministers, held in pre-trial custody for 30 days after questioning them until after midnight Wednesday. Veljanovski cited his parliamentary immunity and was released.

Another two, including Gruevski, are abroad. Gruevski is currently in Hungary, where he fled and sought asylum after being convicted and sentenced to two years in jail in a separate corruption case.