Macedonia Braces for Rival Protests over Court

Heavy police forces were deployed in the centre of Skopje on Tuesday amid fears that violence might break out between the two rival protests.

The first, which began in front of the government building and was due to end in front of the Constitutional Court, was organized by civic organizations and supported by the main opposition Social Democratic Party, SDSM.

It is against a recent court ruling annulling a provision in the law that bars the President of Macedonia from granting pardons.

Critics of the government say the ruling clearly serves the interests of the main ruling VMRO DPMNE party, whose officials were recently named as suspected election riggers.

The situation became complicated after government supporters then occupied the plateau in front of the Constitutional Court in a counter-protest and set up tents at the exact place where the opponents planned to hold an all-night vigil.

The counter-protesters said they were there to support the Constitutional Court and protect it from attacks by the opposition.

The protest and counter-protest come ahead of a session of the Court on Wednesday when the judges will make the final decision on whether the President may pardon the alleged election riggers. The Court said the session will be closed for public.

Macedonia's Special Prosecution, tasked with investigating crime in high places, earlier this month launched investigations into several people, including two former ministers and a senior government official, suspected of organising election fraud during the 2013 elections.

Former police minister Gordana Jankuloska, former transport minister Mile Janakieski and the government secretary general Kiril Bozinovski, all members of the government of...