FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
After two hours, the protest of Albanian students in Skopje has ended, where thousands of young people and citizens marched in the center of the Macedonian capital to demand the right to conduct the bar exam in the Albanian language.
During the protest, three students were also reported to have been arrested, news confirmed by the protest organizer, Mevlan Ademi. So far, Macedonian authorities have not provided official details on the reasons for their detention.
The march passed through the center of Skopje, while the “Stone Bridge” was filled with red and black flags and banners with messages in defense of the Albanian language. Protesters chanted “The Albanian language is not negotiable,” while demanding respect for their constitutional rights.
Holding banners, the students demanded the resignation of Justice Minister Igor Fillkov, who has opposed the holding of the bar exam in Albanian. The protest also included calls against Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski.
Among the protesters, a banner of a little boy with the inscription "Don't translate my future!" also attracted attention, which was widely shared on social media and became a symbol of the protest.
The march was attended by Albanian students and citizens from Tetovo, Struga, Kosovo and other Albanian-speaking areas. During the day, there were reports that buses carrying students from Kosovo and Albania were diverted from the highway after police checks, which the organizers considered an attempt to prevent participation in the protest.
This was the second major protest organized by Albanian students after the rejection of their demands by the Ministry of Justice.
The students argue that conducting the bar exam in Albanian is a right that stems from the Constitution and the Law on the Use of Languages in North Macedonia.
What do students want?
The students argue that conducting the jurisprudence exam in Albanian is a right that stems from the Constitution and the Law on the Use of Languages.
According to media in North Macedonia, the law on the bar exam does not contain any provision that limits the testing to being conducted only in the Macedonian language.
Meanwhile, Article 2 and Article 5 of the Law on the Use of Languages stipulate that state institutions must enable the use of the Albanian language in official and administrative procedures.
A draft proposal for holding the exam in Albanian was prepared by the Ministry of Justice in 2024, but after political changes it was removed from the parliamentary agenda and never returned to discussion.
Three students have been arrested by Macedonian authorities during the Albanian student protest in Skopje, while the official reasons for their detention have not yet been made public.
Despite the incidents, the protest continued with the march of thousands of students towards the Ministry of Justice, where protesters demand respect for linguistic rights and the holding of the jurisprudence exam in the Albanian language.
Due to the high turnout, the Stone Bridge was completely blocked all the way to "Filip the Second" Square, while protesters marched with red and black flags and banners in their hands.
At the rally, student representatives emphasized that the protest aims for equality and respect for Albanians in North Macedonia.
"We are for equality and respect and together we will demand our rights," declared Mevlan Ademi during his speech to the protesters.
He added that the protest will not stop and that the demand for the use of the Albanian language will continue from generation to generation.
"This voice does not stop, it passes from generation to generation. Rise up, Albanians, for our language," he said.
Students consider holding the bar exam in Albanian a constitutional right, while organizers insist that the protest is civic and not political.
Increased security measures and police presence have been imposed in several areas of the Macedonian capital, while the march continued in an organized manner in the center of Skopje.
The protest of Albanian students in North Macedonia escalated this Monday in Skopje, where hundreds of students marched towards the Ministry of Justice to demand the holding of the state bar exam in the Albanian language.
With banners, red and black flags and constant cheers, protesters have blocked several of the main streets of the Macedonian capital, while demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski and Justice Minister Igor Filkov.
" The Albanian language is identity, the Albanian language is a trust, the Albanian language is not negotiable ," was the call that dominated the march towards the justice institution.
The law students were joined by young Albanians from Kosovo, Tetovo, Struga and other cities, while according to the organizers, a group of students from Albania was unable to participate after being blocked at the border.
The atmosphere at the protest was accompanied by patriotic songs, cheers and the singing of the Albanian National Anthem. Dozens of national flags and banners demanding respect for the constitutional rights of Albanians in North Macedonia were seen among the crowd.
The students insist that conducting the bar exam only in the Macedonian language constitutes discrimination and contradicts the Law on the Use of Languages and the spirit of the Ohrid Agreement.
The protest has taken on wider proportions in recent days and is being seen as one of the strongest student reactions in the country regarding the issue of the Albanian language and the representation of Albanians in state institutions.
Protests for the Albanian language continue in Skopje. Among the thousands of protesters, a young boy holding a banner with the inscription: "Don't translate my future!" has received special attention .
His photo has been widely shared on social media and commented on by followers in North Macedonia, Albania, Kosovo, and the Albanian diaspora.
The students say that their request is related to respecting linguistic rights and implementing the Law on the Use of Languages.
"What we are doing is mandatory. It's about our future. Albanian must be spoken. This truly belongs to us," declared a Communication Sciences student during the protest.
Arlinda Emini, a student at the Faculty of Law of "Mother Teresa" University, said that the protest is a student organization and that the young people will not back down from their demands.
"We will not give up. It is a right that belongs to us. It is a problem of institutions, but with our generation many issues will be realized that have not been realized before," she said.
Student Lavdrim Hajrullahi also spoke in support of the protest, warning that the protests would continue until the demands were met.
"We hope that a solution will be reached. We will continue the protests and we will not stop. This is not a party issue, it is a matter of language and rights," he declared.
During the protest, students sang the national anthem and marched with red and black flags and banners of support. At some points, chants were heard, while increased police forces were observed on the ground, especially in the area around the Stone Bridge in Skopje.
Albanian students in North Macedonia are protesting against the state bar exam being held only in Macedonian, demanding recognition of the right to take the test in Albanian. The protest has reignited the debate on the implementation of the Law on Languages, the Ohrid Agreement and the equality of Albanians in state institutions...
Albanian students in North Macedonia have protested against the denial of the state bar exam in Albanian, describing the situation as discriminatory and contrary to constitutional rights to use their native language.
Thousands of people have filled the center of Skopje, while Albanian students from Kosovo have also joined the protest, while those from Albania are still stranded at the border.
The protests have focused on the demand that students of Albanian-language law faculties have the right to take their professional exam in the same language they studied in. According to them, the obligation to conduct the test only in Macedonian creates inequality and violates the right to equal representation in the legal system.
The debate concerns the interpretation of the Law on Languages and constitutional provisions in North Macedonia. Although the Albanian language enjoys official status in the country following the Ohrid Agreement and the constitutional amendments of 2001, in practice the legal system continues to function mainly in Macedonian.
Students and their supporters argue that there is a discrepancy between the rights guaranteed in law and the way they are implemented by institutions. They point out that the use of Albanian is permitted in many administrative and educational fields, but is indirectly restricted in the justice system and in state professional exams.
The issue has also taken on a political dimension. Albanian opposition parties in North Macedonia have supported the protests, accusing institutions of procrastination and a lack of will to fully implement language rights. Meanwhile, supportive reactions have also come from Albanian academic institutions.
The Rector of the University of Tirana, Artan Hoxha, has publicly come out in support of the students, describing their request as a fundamental right and not a political privilege.
According to analysts and legal experts, the protest has highlighted gaps and ambiguities in the implementation of the Law on Languages, particularly regarding the use of Albanian in central institutions and the judicial system.
One of the most contentious points remains the 20% representation criterion, which determines the official use of community languages at the local level. Critics argue that this criterion limits the rights of Albanians in areas where they constitute less than 20% of the population, creating obstacles in administration, education and justice.
Students are demanding concrete legal changes that would guarantee the use of the Albanian language at all levels of the legal and educational system, without territorial restrictions or different institutional interpretations.
Their protest is seen by supporters as a test for the real functioning of the multiethnic state in North Macedonia and for the practical implementation of the principles of equality and coexistence provided for by the Ohrid Agreement. /Pamphlet
A few hours before the student protest in Skopje, the Prime Minister of North Macedonia, Hristijan Mickoski, met with the co-chairs of VLEN, Bilall Kasami and Izet Medziti.
The meeting reportedly discussed the topic of language use during the Bar exam. A statement from the Macedonian government stated that institutions are actively working to find a solution.
"It was emphasized that only through a common, wise and dignified approach can solutions be achieved that will mean progress, mutual trust and a common step towards the future. Therefore, institutions are actively working to find solutions that will be fully in line with the Constitution and the Law on the Use of Languages, in order to ensure legal certainty and functionality ," the Government statement said.
A bus carrying Albanian students has been denied entry into North Macedonia through the Bllata border crossing in Debar. So far, Macedonian authorities have not provided any explanation for the reasons for this decision.
The incident comes on the eve of another protest by Albanian students in North Macedonia, scheduled for this Tuesday. They are demanding the implementation of the right to conduct university exams in the Albanian language.
To coordinate the protest, students have held meetings in several cities, including Kumanovo, Tetovo, Struga and Skopje. The reaction initially started with students of the Faculty of Law, who have been demanding for two years to take exams in their native language, without yet receiving an institutional response.
Their request is related to rights provided for in the Constitution and obligations stemming from the Ohrid Agreement. The issue has also opened a debate on the political representation of Albanians in North Macedonia, at a time when Albanian parties are part of the government.
The first protest was held on April 6 in Skopje and ended in front of the Ministry of Justice. After that protest, students say there have been no concrete steps from institutions to address their demands.
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