Two defendants plead guilty in Zijadin Sela trial

Two defendants, whose indictment had been changed by prosecutors after new evidence came to light – from an attempted murder of MP Zijadin Sela during the storming of Parliament in 2017 into violent disorder – pleaded guilty on Monday in a Skopje court.

“I plead guilty and I understand the new indictment I am charged with,” said Ceo Georgievski, one of the defendants.

His lawyer requested that proceedings against him in court should be separated considering the new charge of violent disorder.

Also, Stojan Pavleski, the second defendant, said that he understood the new charge and that he pleaded guilty.

The two defendants said they admitted guilt ‘voluntarily and willingly’.

Now, the two men will stand trial for violent disorder separately from those who are tried for attempted murder, a judge has decided.

Under the law, if proven guilty of violent disorder, the men will be sentenced from six months to five years in prison.

According to the new indictment, seven men are now being tried for attempted murder of MP Zijadin Sela, who received life threatening injuries after being badly beaten during the violence in Parliament on 27 April 2017.