site.btaThousands Protest in Skopje, Demand Justice for Student Killed by Unlicensed Driver Under the Influence
Thousands of people, not only from Skopje, took to the streets on Sunday for a second consecutive protest after a 22-year-old student was killed on a pedestrian crossing by a 20-year-old unlicensed driver under the influence of alcohol and drugs.
The demonstration, organized under the slogan “Who’s Next?”, was led by the parents of Frosina Kulakova, who was tragically killed three days earlier on a major boulevard in the capital. They demanded an end to “reckless driving and impunity, which have resulted in tragic outcomes.”
"We are all Frosina," "The place isn’t fatal—people and the system are," "Streets are not a racetrack," "Safety is a right, not a luxury," and "If the corrupt system lives, people die," were some of the handmade signs held by the protesters, many of whom were young people.
Chanting "Justice," the march passed through Skopje, stopping at parliament, the prosecution service, and the Basic Criminal Court. Protesters used phone flashlights to demand better institutional coordination, safer urban environments, and real consequences for crimes.
The incident, which occurred just before midnight on January 29, when 20-year-old Vasil Jovanov struck and killed Frosina Kulakova as she crossed at a pedestrian crossing, sparked widespread outrage in North Macedonia.
The case caused an especially strong reaction not only because it was yet another fatality involving a young person on this boulevard but also because details quickly emerged about Jovanov’s criminal past.
It was revealed that Jovanov had previously been convicted as a minor for drug possession and distribution, with a sentence to a juvenile correctional facility in Tetovo still pending appeal. Additionally, he had been involved in another traffic incident injuring a pedestrian, but no case was filed, as it was settled out of court.
The mass protests in Skopje on Friday and Sunday, along with the public outcry, prompted responses from institutions and political parties. The Basic Criminal Court issued a statement clarifying Jovanov’s prior conviction, while politicians pledged to take action.
Last week, the Basic Criminal Court in Skopje ruled that Jovanov would be placed under 30-day detention at Shutka Prison. However, by Saturday, a photo of him using a mobile phone in the prison yard surfaced on social media, triggering fresh outrage.
Prison authorities said they were investigating how Jovanov obtained the phone, while the prosecution requested the names of the officers responsible for allowing it into his cell. Officials confirmed that Jovanov’s phone had been confiscated, along with that of the inmate who took the photo, and that he had been moved to solitary confinement.
"This is an unyielding clash between two civilizational systems. On one side, we teach our children values—Frosina was such a child. On the other side are those who thrive in an anti-system—drug dealers, abusers, and killers, enabled by well-funded judges and prosecutors, becoming the 'heroes of our time' and making crime the most profitable industry in our country," Frosina’s father, Todor Kulakov, told the crowd, thanking them for their support.
/KT/
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