Assassination attempt on the mayor of Aračinovo, his bodyguard wounded

(Patria) - In the Skopje municipality of Aračinovo, Mayor Ridvan Ibraimi was the target of a shooting.

According to information from the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MUP), the attack with automatic weapons occurred while the mayor was walking outside.

A member of his security was injured, they confirmed to Radio Free Europe (RSE) from the MUP. The reasons for the incident are not yet known.

Otherwise, the public prosecutor of the Basic Public Prosecutor's Office Skopje recently initiated proceedings against two brothers for endangering the safety of Mayor Ibraimi.

"The suspects, aged 42 and 35, repeatedly threatened the official – the Mayor of the Municipality of Aračinovo – by phone, causing him insecurity, distress, and fear.

Since he reported them, they continued with serious threats via Viber to attack his life and body," the Public Prosecutor's Office stated at the time.

The competent public prosecutor submitted a proposal to the judge for preliminary proceedings of the Basic Criminal Court Skopje for the determination of precautionary measures – prohibition of leaving the place of residence, temporary confiscation of travel or other documents for crossing the border, obligation to report to the competent authority, prohibition of entering the municipality of Aračinovo, as well as prohibition of approaching and contacting Mayor Ibraimi.

In 2022, Ibraimi reported that he had been physically attacked by several people. At that time, the police arrested three people, and the MUP announced that a criminal complaint for the criminal offense of violence would be filed against them.

Presidential and parliamentary elections are to be held in North Macedonia in April.