19.12.2008 - Source:Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe 

"OSCE/ODIHR Needs Assessment Mission Report; 2009 Presidential and Municipal Elections Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, 19 - 12 December 2008 "

Needs assessment report ahead of the 2009 presidential and municipal elections (political context, government bodies to be elected, security situation, legal framework, election administration, voter list, media, observers) [ID 111858]

15.12.2008 - Source:Balkan Insight

"Macedonia 'Media War Hinders Journalism'"

According to the journalist’s association, the conflct between two rival media entrepreneurs damage national media [ID 111404]

04.12.2008 - Source:Balkan Insight

"Macedonia Approves Election Commission"

Parliament approves new State Election Commission chaired by the Social Democrats, largest opposition party; the commission is to organise the forthcoming presidential and local elections in March 2009 [ID 110212]

01.12.2008 - Source:Council of Europe - European Committee of Social Rights

"2nd report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the government of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia” (Articles 11, 12 and 13 for the period 01/01/2005 – 31/12/2007) [RAP/Cha/FYROM/II(2008)]"

State report on conformity of national law and practice with the European Social Charter and conclusions of the European Committee of Social Rights [ID 110370]

14.11.2008 - Source:Balkan Insight

"Labour Strike"

Skopje: Main trade union stages protest against recently adopted changes to Labor Law that they claim drastically restrict workers' rights [ID 109187]

14.11.2008 - Source:Balkan Insight

"Healthcare Second Worst in Europe"

Macedonia's healthcare system ranked second worst among countries in Europe, report issued by Health Consumer Powerhouse, HCP, says [ID 109189]

12.11.2008 - Source:Balkan Insight

"Macedonian Party Leader Relative Killed"

Redza Zulkani, the brother-in-law of Menduh Thaci, the leader of the main opposition ethnic Albanian party in Macedonia, was shot dead, local media reported [ID 109048]

05.11.2008 - Source:European Commission 

"The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 2008 Progress Report [SEC(2008) 2695]"

Progress report on country's preparation for EU membership (democracy and rule of law, human rights and protection of minorities, economic criteria and ability to assume obligations of membership) [ID 111320]

04.11.2008 - Source:Council of Europe - European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment

"Report to the Government of "the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia” on the visit to "the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" carried out by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) from 30 June to 3 July 2008 [CPT/Inf (2008) 31] "

Report on the treatment and conditions of detention of sentenced and remand prisoners [ID 108570]

04.11.2008 - Source:Council of Europe - European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment

"Report to the Government of “the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia” on the visit to "the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" carried out by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) [CPT/Inf (2008) 31]"

Country report on implementation of recommendations given by Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) (reform of prison system; ill-treatment; conditions of detention; health-care services; staffing and management; law enforcement agencies) [ID 110375]

11.2008 - Source:Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe 

"Survey on Decentralization 2008; Mission to Skopje"

Report on decentralisation in Skopje (education, communal planning, economic development, cultural aspects) [ID 110252]

20.10.2008 - Source:Balkan Insight

"Macedonia Jails First Election Violators"

Court has passed down a six-and-a half year jail term for Agim Krasniqi, one of the violators of the June general elections [ID 107777]

01.10.2008 - Source:Balkan Insight

"Macedonia Scraps Passports for EU-Schengen Visitors"

Reduced visa requirements; government scraps passports for EU-Schengen visitors; just identity cards will be needed to enter the country [ID 106987]

19.09.2008 - Source:US Department of State 

"International Religious Freedom Report 2008"

International Religious Freedom Report 2008 [ID 106396]

11.09.2008 - Source:Council of Europe - Commissioner for Human Rights 

"Report by the Commissioner for Human Rights, Mr Thomas Hammarberg, on his visit to “the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia”, 25 – 29 February 2008 [CommDH(2008)21]"

Report on human rights situation (human rights protection, rule of law, freedom of expression and access to information, national minorities, efforts to combat discrimination, rights of children, human trafficking, situation of refugees and internally displaced persons) [ID 107196]

10.09.2008 - Source:Balkan Insight

"CoE Notes Cruelty in Macedonia Prisons"

A special team of experts working for the Council of Europe, CoE, urged Skopje to immediately stop the practice of chaining prisoners together and to do more to tackle corruption and bad conditions in the prisons, local media say [ID 105753]

10.09.2008 - Source:Council of Europe - European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment

"Report to the Government of "the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" on the visit to "the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" carried out by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) from 14 to 18 October 2007 [CPT/Inf (2008) 22]"

Report on law enforcement and prisons (ill-treatment prison conditions and health care) [ID 106867]

05.09.2008 - Source:Balkan Insight

"Macedonia's Opposition Albanian Party Splits"

Vice president of the main Albanian opposition, the Democratic Party of Albanians, DPA, has resigned and announced the creation of another party [ID 105653]

20.08.2008 - Source:Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe 

"Final Report on the 1 June 2008 Parliamentary Elections in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia"

Report on the early parliamentary elections on 1 June 2008 (background; legislative framework; election administration; election campaign; media; pre-elections complaints and appeals; participation of women and ethnic communities; domestic observers; election day observation; post-election developments; post re-run developments) [ID 104485]

08.2008 - Source:Helsinki Committee for Human Rights of the Republic of Macedonia 

"Report on the Human Rights Situation in the Republic of Macedonia; July/August 2008"

Monthly report on the human rights situation (violations of democratic principles, violations of economic and social rights, police and court cases) [ID 107656]

28.07.2008 - Source:Balkan Insight

"Macedonia Opposition Figure in Police Custody"

Court overturns decision of investigative judge and detains Zoran Zaev, Strumica mayor and vice president of the main opposition Social Democrats; Zaev is accused of abusing his office [ID 102205]

28.07.2008 - Source:Balkan Insight

"Macedonia's New Government Approved"

Macedonia's parliament has approved a new conservative government led by Nikola Gruevski, who vowed economic prosperity and EU and NATO integration; VMRO DPMNE party has formed a coalition with one of the main parties representing ethnic Albanians [ID 102206]

23.07.2008 - Source:Balkan Insight

"Rights' Group Pans Macedonia 'Staged Arrests'"

Macedonia’s Helsinki Committee for Human Rights complains against arrest of suspects by police in front of television cameras; this practice ignores the idea that one is innocent until proved guilty [ID 102204]

18.07.2008 - Source:Balkan Insight

"Macedonian Official Not Detained"

The Skopje court decided not to detain Zoran Zaev, a high ranking opposition official who was arrested on charges of abuse of office earlier that day [ID 102202]

17.07.2008 - Source:Balkan Insight

"Macedonia Arrests Senior Opposition Figure"

Skopje: Zoran Zaev, one of the vice presidents of the opposition Social Democrats, and a potential successor to the current leader, has been arrested on claims of abuse of office [ID 102174]