Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
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European Asylum Support Office EASO Country of Origin Information Report The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia Country Focus November 2016 SUPPORT IS OUR MISSION European Asylum Support Office EASO Country of Origin Information Report The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia November 2016 Europe Direct is a service to help you find answers to your questions about the European Union. Freephone number (*): 00 800 6 7 8 9 10 11 (*) Certain mobile telephone operators do not allow access to 00800 numbers or these calls may be billed. More information on the European Union is available on the Internet (http://europa.eu). Print ISBN: 978-92-9494-282-1 doi: 10.2847/538738 BZ-07-16-015-EN-C PDF ISBN: 978-92-9494-283-8 doi: 10.2847/71303 BZ-07-16-015-EN-N © European Asylum Support Office 2016 Neither EASO nor any person acting on its behalf may be held responsible for the use which may be made of the information contained herein. EASO COI REPORT FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA COUNTRY FOCUS - 5 Acknowledgments EASO would like to acknowledge Hungary, Office of Immigration & Nationality, COI unit as author of this report. The following departments reviewed this report: Slovak Republic, Ministry of the Interior of the Slovak Republic, Migration Office, Department of Documentation and Foreign Cooperation. The Netherlands, Immigration and Naturalisation Service, Office for Country Information and Language Analysis (OCILA). 6 — EASO COI REPORT FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA: COUNTRY FOCUS Contents Acknowledgments ................................................................................................................................... 5 Contents .................................................................................................................................................. 6 Disclaimer ................................................................................................................................................ 8 Abbreviations .......................................................................................................................................... 9 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 10 Methodology ..................................................................................................................................... 10 Map ....................................................................................................................................................... 11 1. State structure ................................................................................................................................... 12 1.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 12 1.2 Constitution ................................................................................................................................. 12 1.3 Executive branch ......................................................................................................................... 13 1.3.1 President .............................................................................................................................. 13 1.3.2 Government ......................................................................................................................... 13 1.4 Legislative branch: Assembly (Sobranie)..................................................................................... 15 1.5 Administration ............................................................................................................................ 15 2. Socio-political landscape ................................................................................................................... 17 2.1 Political parties ............................................................................................................................ 17 2.1.1. Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organisation – Democratic Party of Macedonian National Unity (VMRO-DPMNE) ................................................................................................... 17 2.1.2 Social Democratic Union of Macedonia – SDSM ................................................................. 18 2.1.3 Democratic Union for Integration – DUI .............................................................................. 18 2.2 Elections ...................................................................................................................................... 19 2.2.1 State Election Commission (SEC) ......................................................................................... 19 2.2.2 Parliamentary elections ....................................................................................................... 20 2.3 Civil society organisations (CSOs) ............................................................................................... 20 2.4 Media .......................................................................................................................................... 21 3. Rule of Law and State Protection ...................................................................................................... 23 3.1 Law enforcement ........................................................................................................................ 23 3.1.1 Police/Intelligence services ................................................................................................. 23 3.1.2 Army..................................................................................................................................... 24 3.1.3 Corruption / fight against organised crime ......................................................................... 25 3.2 Judiciary ...................................................................................................................................... 26 EASO COI REPORT FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA COUNTRY FOCUS - 7 3.2.1 Courts system ...................................................................................................................... 28 4. Security situation ............................................................................................................................... 30 5. Human rights situation ...................................................................................................................... 32 5.1 Legal context ............................................................................................................................... 32 5.2 General human rights situation .................................................................................................. 32 5.2.1 Freedom of expression ........................................................................................................ 32 5.2.2 Freedom of religion ............................................................................................................. 33 5.2.3 Freedom of association and assembly................................................................................. 33 5.2.4 Torture and other cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment and punishment ................ 34 5.2.5 Detention ............................................................................................................................. 34 5.3 Specific groups ............................................................................................................................ 35 5.3.1 Ethnic minorities / Inter-ethnic relations ............................................................................ 35 5.3.2 Journalists and media .......................................................................................................... 36 5.3.3 Human rights and peace defenders..................................................................................... 37 5.3.4 Women ................................................................................................................................ 37 5.3.5 Children ................................................................................................................................ 38 5.3.6 LGBTI .................................................................................................................................... 39 5.3.7 Trafficked persons ............................................................................................................... 39 5.3.8 Returnees ............................................................................................................................. 40 Bibliography ........................................................................................................................................... 42 Terms of Reference ............................................................................................................................... 53 8 — EASO COI REPORT FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA: COUNTRY FOCUS Disclaimer This report was written according to the EASO COI Report Methodology (2012)(1). It is based on carefully selected sources of information. All sources used are referenced. To the extent possible and unless otherwise stated, all information presented, except for undisputed or obvious facts, has been cross-checked. The information contained in this report has been researched, evaluated and analysed with