Anti-Albanian chants in RMV, Kumanovo Prosecutor’s Office launches investigations to see if there is a “possible criminal offense”

Anti-Albanian chants in RMV, Kumanovo Prosecutor’s Office launches investigations to see if there is a “possible criminal offense”

The Basic Public Prosecution Office in Kumanovo has launched investigations into the elements of a possible criminal offense, related to calls containing hate speech, following anti-Albanian chants made by unknown persons during a basketball match between North Macedonia and Romania, held in Kumanovo on August 2.

The match, which was part of the second pre-qualifying phase for the World Cup to be held in Qatar in 2027, was also attended by senior Macedonian government officials.

According to Albanian politicians in North Macedonia, chants such as “a good Albanian is a dead Albanian”, “gas chamber for Albanians”, and “clean Macedonia” were heard during this sporting event.

According to the latest population census, Albanians make up 24.3 percent of the total population of 1.8 million inhabitants.

The event has sparked reactions not only in North Macedonia, but also in Kosovo and Albania, countries with Albanian majorities.

North Macedonia’s Prime Minister, Hristijan Mickoski, who was present at the match, condemned the “nationalist and xenophobic chants” on Monday.

Speaking to the media, Mickoski said that, although he was in the hall during the match, he “did not notice” the fans’ chants, claiming that it was “a small group of people.”

“I want to use this opportunity to join in condemning nationalism and xenophobia – first for what happened during the basketball match between [North] Macedonia and Romania, and then to send a message to all fan groups: to support in a sporting manner, to support their team and the Macedonian national team,” Mickoski said.

Photo taken during the match between North Macedonia and Romania in Kumanovo.

He said that calls against Albanians “will be subject to investigation and sanctions, regardless of where they come from.” The Macedonian prosecutor’s office has launched an investigation into the incident.

“I want to repeat once again: I absolutely condemn the unusual and unacceptable cheering of some individuals, which was not met with support from anyone present in the hall,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Sports, Borko Ristovski, said that this ministry cannot react specifically to this event, “because it does not come from any sports entity – it comes from fans in the stands – and we have no competence to react when it comes to fans.”

“However, let me take this opportunity to make an appeal: in Macedonia there is no need for such cheers, neither from one side nor the other, from anyone, from whichever side it comes from.”

He added that “from the position of the Ministry of Sports, we cannot do anything other than help identify them and act in accordance with the law.”

The Criminal Code of North Macedonia provides for penalties for racist incitement and hate speech in several articles, the most important of which is Article 319, which stipulates that anyone who publicly incites or spreads hatred, discord or intolerance on racial, religious, ethnic or national grounds is punished with imprisonment from one to five years.

Reactions in North Macedonia, Albania and Kosovo

The incident in Kumanovo caused reactions in North Macedonia, Albania and Kosovo.

The Albanian opposition party in North Macedonia, the Democratic Union for Integration (DUI), said that at this event “anti-Albanian chants, racist chants and pure language of ethnic hatred against Albanians were heard.”

This party said on August 3 that the most worrying fact is that the Government and the state representatives present were silent about this event.

“There was no institutional reaction, no moral condemnation, no political distancing. Only silent approval, which for us is as serious as the choirs themselves,” said DUI, which demanded an urgent investigation into the event, sanctions against the organizers, public distancing from the Government, and the involvement of the international factor to monitor the spread of hate speech and, as it said, institutional nationalism.

“Everyone should know: We will not allow the country to return to an arena of ethnic hatred. We will not allow Albanians to become targets of fascist calls. We will not remain silent, neither now nor in the future,” said DUI.

Meanwhile, the Secretary General of the Alliance for Albanians, Blerant Ramadani, said that the silence of state leaders regarding the event in Kumanovo is “moral and political co-responsibility.”

“In a country aspiring to the European Union, hate speech cannot be tolerated, relativized or silenced. We demand urgent investigation, exemplary punishment and immediate institutional response,” he wrote on Facebook on Sunday.

In Kosovo, the country’s president and MPs from parties that were in opposition last term have reacted harshly to this event.

On Monday, Kosovo’s president, Vjosa Osmani, said that anti-Albanian chants heard in Kumanovo are unacceptable and “violate the spirit of coexistence and mutual respect.”

“Albanians are an indigenous people in their own lands and deserve to be treated with dignity and equality, just like any other community,” said Osmani.

The President of Kosovo demanded that the Macedonian state act and punish those who incite hatred.

“We call on the institutions of North Macedonia to take immediate measures against the organizers of these calls, those responsible, and those who incite and spread hatred, condemning every form of hate speech, and protecting the principles of coexistence and tolerance, as basic values of a state aiming for EU integration,” said Osmani.

On Monday, the Kosovo Embassy in Skopje also reacted, saying that it condemns in the strongest terms the racist anti-Albanian calls.

“We appreciate the reaction of the institutional head of the Republic of North Macedonia and the strong stance of the Albanian political factor in the Government regarding this issue. The activation of the prosecution is quite promising and we hope that the perpetrators will be subject to legal consequences, thus creating a trend of impunity for such cases,” the Embassy’s statement says.

We appreciate the reaction of the institutional head of the Republic of North Macedonia and the strong stance of the Albanian political factor in the Government regarding this issue. The activation of the prosecution is quite promising and we hope that the perpetrators will be subject to legal consequences, thus creating a trend of impunity for such cases.

A day ago, Artan Behrami from the Democratic Party of Kosovo criticized the lack of reaction of the acting Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, the acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Donika Gërvalla, but also of the president.

“Hristijan Mickoski has become the Prime Minister of North Macedonia with the blessing and vote that Albin Kurti brought him directly through the VELEN coalition,” Behrami wrote on Facebook, adding that “Kurti’s silence is more than indifference – it is political and moral complicity.”

MP Daut Haradinaj from the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo also expressed his criticism of Kurti’s lack of reaction. He said that Kurti is the “godfather of the ruling coalition in North Macedonia” and that the new leadership there is “giving them alms” with racist calls against Albanians.

During the recent elections in North Macedonia, several Albanian parties joined together in a coalition called VLEN. Bekim Qoku from the Vetëvendosje Movement – led by Albin Kurti – joined this list.

VLEN is part of the governing coalition in North Macedonia.

Albania also had harsh reactions to calls against Albanians.

The Speaker of the Parliament, Elisa Spiropali, described the insulting calls against Albanians as unacceptable.

“Hate speech that incites violence, ethnic conflict and racism has no place in any public space, let alone in sport, which at its core carries the spirit of unity, cooperation, fair play and respect for others,” she said.

She said that Albania and Albanians continue to be committed to promoting coexistence and stand against “outdated and outdated divisions.”

Meanwhile, Albania’s ambassador to Skopje, Denion Meidani, said that “the insulting calls in Kumanovo are an alarm for all of us”, adding that coexistence requires daily commitment and respect for the rules. /REL