Police behaving as if they are vandals, not refugees fleeing war!

Amnesty International has stated that refugees in Macedonia are at serious risk of violence. This international organization has received, they say, information that soldiers and riot police at the border have beaten refugees, and even fired into the air to prevent refugees from passing through barbed wire. Rubber bullets were reportedly used, reports the Patria news agency. 

"Every country has the authority to control its own borders, but this kind of paramilitary response is an unacceptable violation of international law. Macedonian authorities are behaving as if they are dealing with vandals, not refugees fleeing persecution and conflict," said Gauri van Gulik, Deputy Director of Amnesty International for Europe.

Van Gulik emphasizes that all countries have a duty to protect refugees fleeing war, including Macedonia. "If the system cannot cope, then you must improve the system; you cannot stop people at the border," Van Gulik stated.