The Basic Public Prosecutor's Office of Gostivar tried to clarify matters through a statement after videos started to be shared on social networks about the happenings near a religious building in Galate, Gostivar, and refer to the alleged prevention of a group of citizens from building a church, while the police allegedly wanted to to arrest the gathered citizens in front of the church in the village of Galate which was significantly damaged in the military conflict in 2001.

Gostivar OJO claims that the published information that is shared on social networks and taken by some media is untrue.

"The basic public prosecutor's office Gostivar informs the public that the public prosecutor has not issued an order for the arrest or detention of any person. The Basic Public Prosecutor's Office Gostivar has been notified that the Ministry of Internal Affairs is acting in this specific case following a report submitted by the Municipality of Vrapcishte for illegal construction works in the immediate vicinity of a main road. The work has been suspended, and according to the instructions of the public prosecutor, police teams will carry out an on-site inspection today in order to determine the status of the building and the works that were carried out, as well as whether there are any elements of a criminal offense in the whole event," the statement said. OJO Gostivar.

The video published on Facebook shows the Church of Saint Petka in Galate, residents and increased police presence in an attempt to stop the construction machinery and people to clear the area around the church for which they collected funds to renovate. In the announcement, the residents call the Minister of Internal Affairs Panče Toškovski to account for the tense atmosphere and the intervention of the police forces.