He was convicted in Macedonia of insulting Erdogan, what experts say

The offensive remarks and ironic statements to the head of the Turkish state have cost the person with the initials E.A. With dual citizenship, the Macedonian and Turkish, fine of 400 euros. The Skopje Foundation Court had convicted him because through social media (Facebook) he has used offensive expressions and ironic statements to Turkish State President Recep Tayip Erdogan. He is now obliged to pay the penalty for the first time or to serve him in prison.

Immediately, human rights activists who have declared that Macedonia as a state in no way should be protected by Turkish authorities, condemning any actions of those who are critical of Turkey's officials' policies.

Mirjana Najchevska, former chairman of the Helsinki Committee in Macedonia, legalising at the Faculty of Jurydical in Skopje, told Radio Free Europe that the Court's decision is contrary to the European Court's practices of Human Rights.

The Skopje Court's “decision, or what we can at least name, is a strange decision, while it is also contrary to European Court for Human Rights practices”, Najchevska said.

“To be punished by a person who has expressed his attitude by rejecting the manifestation of the dictatorship, being called to the civil responsibility law for insult and slander, the Macedonian Court's ruling presents a very bad precedent and I hope that at least the Court of Appeals will respond positively to complaints and cancel the decision of the Skopje First Court”, said Mirjana Najçevska.

On the other hand, Mersel Bilall, the connoisseur of international relations and adviser to Macedonia's prime minister's cabinet, Zoran Zaev, told Radio Free Europe that the Court's decision to condemn the person who has expressed insulting words to the Turkish president, describes him as precedent facing basic rules of democracy.

“I think that in this case it concerns the judicial system and the impact of various diplomatic structures and virtually becomes a precedent that faces basic rules of democracy”, Bilal points out.

Otherwise, top officials of Macedonia and Turkey have consistently stressed that these two countries have been cultivating good bilateral reports for years. /Ina