Nightclub manager becomes director of Shutka Prison, Helsinki reacts

The Government of the Republic of Northern Macedonia at a session held on 15.12.2020 dismissed the acting the director of the Skopje Penitentiary, Esad Rahic, and appointed Filip Andov, an adviser to Prime Minister Zaev, who had previously worked as a local bar manager, as the new director. In the past period, the director of the Volkovija Correctional Institution was dismissed at his request, and Daniel Antovski, who previously worked as a teacher, was appointed as the new director.

The director of the institution and his deputy are appointed and dismissed by the Government of the Republic of Northern Macedonia on the proposal of the director of the Office. The necessary conditions that a person must meet to be appointed director or deputy director of a penitentiary institution are listed in the Law on Execution of Sanctions, and as one of the additional conditions is the person to have at least seven years of work experience, from which four years in the field of enforcement of sanctions or related matters. [1]

-Research Reporting Laboratory Macedonia informs that Filip Andov, who has been appointed new director of the Skopje Penitentiary, was previously an advisor to Prime Minister Zaev for creating policies that are of special interest to the citizens of the City of Skopje, while at the same time he worked professionally as a businessman in the business sector. the statement of the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights and the Macedonian Young Lawyers Association.

Hence, they say, the question arises whether the competencies of the newly elected directors correspond to the height of the task, and that is the management of one of the largest penitentiary institutions and the only correctional facility in the country. The persons managing these institutions must have previous experience in the field of enforcement of sanctions. They must have a good understanding of the problem in order to represent the institution, to take care of the promotion of the rights of detainees and convicts, to decide on their benefits and obligations, their treatment and work engagement in order to resocialize and further their social integration in society. life.

- In the last period, some progress has been noted in terms of improving the conditions and conditions in the penitentiary institutions in the Republic of Northern Macedonia. Thus, the largest penitentiary institution in the country was reconstructed - Idrizovo, in whose new facilities a large number of convicts were transferred. The reconstruction of the Bitola Penitentiary was completed, with complete equipping of the premises where the convicts are staying, and the new building of the Correctional Institution in the municipality of Volkovija was opened. In addition, the fact that in some institutions there are still systemic problems, which persist in this area for a long time, must not be overlooked. The penitentiary system still faces great difficulties and challenges, especially in terms of material conditions, health, education and resocialization of convicts- reads the statement.

Years ago, they say, we appeal to the need to appoint people to managerial positions in penitentiary institutions, who not only have expertise and experience in the prison system, but are also sensitized to the need to promote and protect the basic human rights of convicts. and detainees. The placement of inadequate staff is completely contrary to such efforts and can lead to regression, instead of improvement of the penitentiary system in the country.

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