Police arrest 10 after celebrations turn violent in North Macedonia

In North Macedonia, tensions flared during the celebrations of Albanian Flag Day, which occurred late Thursday in cities including the capital Skopje. The festivities, which included hundreds of participants from the ethnic Albanian community, resulted in police intervention and multiple arrests due to the use of firearms and the act of vandalizing the national flag. Reports indicate that some participants fired automatic rifles into the air, raising concerns over public safety and ethnic tensions. Officials, including Interior Minister Panche Toshkovski, confirmed that a total of 10 individuals have been arrested, among them several minors. They now face serious charges of inciting national, racial, and religious hatred, as well as promoting discord and intolerance. If convicted, the suspects could potentially face up to five years in prison, highlighting the gravity of their actions during a heightened time of ethnic sensitivity. The celebrations for Albanian Flag Day, which commemorates Albania's declaration of independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1912, are known to stir nationalistic sentiments in the region, especially in the context of North Macedonia's historically fraught relationship between its ethnic Albanian minority and the Macedonian majority. After the disintegration of Yugoslavia in 1991, the country has grappled with ethnic divisions and unrest. An armed uprising by ethnic Albanians in 2001 led to a peace agreement that granted minority rights, but tensions remain evident during such national celebrations. Political leaders, including Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski, condemned the violent actions that occurred, stating that the tearing and burning of the North Macedonian flag represented an act of aggression and a direct attack against the state. In the wake of these events, political parties across the spectrum have echoed calls for calm, urging citizens of all ethnicities to stand against groups attempting to destabilize the nation. These occurrences not only illustrate the fragile nature of ethnic relations in North Macedonia but also raise questions about how national identity and minority rights will continue to evolve in a country marked by a diverse populace.