ODIHR Director Link urges respect for parliament and democratic institutions in Skopje

WARSAW, 28 April 2017 – Michael Georg Link, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR), today condemned last night’s attack on the Assembly members in Skopje and called for urgent steps to resolve the situation peacefully.

“I appeal for immediate political dialogue in the parliament to ensure non-violent solutions are put in place as a matter of urgency,” Director Link said, following the incident in which the Assembly building was stormed by protesters, leading to injuries among lawmakers as well as law enforcement officers.

Emphasising the vital importance of parliament as one of the cornerstones of democracy, he warned that “intimidation and physical violence have no place in a democratic system.”

“The secure functioning of parliament is essential to provide for constructive and reasoned debate among elected representatives - debate which is sorely needed to preserve pluralism and address societal divisions,” he said.

Director Link stressed that ODIHR stands ready to provide OSCE participating States with any assistance that may be required to support democratic processes and strengthen OSCE commitments to uphold the principles of democracy and human rights.