In April 2016, protests began in the Republic of Macedonia against the incumbent President Gjorge Ivanov and the government led by the interim Prime Minister Emil Dimitriev from the ruling VMRO-DPMNE party. Referred to by some as the Colorful RevolutionPetrevska, Anastasija. Arrests Add Fuel to Anti-Impunity Protesters’ Fire in Macedonia. Global Voices Online. Published 27 April 2016. Retrieved 27 April 2016. (), the protests started after the controversial decision by President Gjorge Ivanov to stop the investigation of former Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski and dozens of politicians who were allegedly involved in a wiretapping scandal.Macedonia enters second week of anti-government protests. The Seattle Times. Published 18 April 2016. Retrieved 18 April 2016.Macedonia Protests Demanding President's Resignation Continue. Novinite. Published 16 April 2016. Retrieved 18 April 2016. The demonstrations were organized by "Protestiram" (I protest) and supported by a coalition led by the Social Democratic Union of Macedonia and other opposition parties, in addition to the newly formed The Left demanding that the government resign and be replaced by a transitional government and that the parliamentary elections planned for 5 June 2016 be cancelled, on the grounds that the conditions for free and transparent elections were not in place. The government and its supporters, who had organized pro-government rallies, maintained that the elections on June 5 were the only solution to the political crisis, with some observers blaming the opposition for creating a "Ukraine scenario" in Macedonia.
Initially taking place in Skopje, the capital, both anti- and pro-government protests also occurred in other cities in the country, including Bitola, Kicevo, Kočani, Veles, Strumica, Prilep, Kumanovo and Tetovo. Thousands of people took part in the demonstrations. The European Union and the United States criticized the government of Macedonia for the pardon of the politicians and stated that Macedonia's prospects of becoming a member of the EU and NATO were under threat because of it. In an official statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia labelled the Macedonian opposition as a tool of foreign powers being used to destabilize the political situation in the country.
Background
Large protests occurred in May 2015 in the Republic of Macedonia against the government of Prime Minister of Macedonia, Nikola Gruevski, following the publication of information by opposition leader Zoran Zaev that suggested Gruevski had thousands of Macedonian citizens wiretapped. Many people protested against alleged government corruption, with estimates putting the number of demonstrators in the tens of thousands, demanding the resignation of the Prime Minister.Thousands in Macedonia protest alleged police brutality. ABC News. Published May 8, 2015. Retrieved 17 May 2015.Macedonia protests: Anti-Gruevski rally in Skopje. BBC News. Guy De Launey. Published May 17, 2015. Retrieved May 17, 2015.Macedonian PM under increasing pressure as tens of thousands take the streets. The Guardian. May 17, 2015. Pro-government rallies occurred as well, which also had tens of thousands attendees.Macedonia's embattled leader rallies supporters in show of force. The Star. Kole Casule. Published May 18, 2015. Retrieved May 18, 2015. An agreement, brokered by the European Union and the United States, was worked on in June and July 2015. As part of the agreement, Gruevski resigned in January 2016 and pledged to hold early elections, which were decided on later that year to be held on June 5.Commission hammers out Macedonia compromise. Euractiv. Published 16 July 2015. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
On 12 April 2016, President of Macedonia Gjorge Ivanov halted judicial inquiries into 56 officials suspected of involvement in the wiretapping scandal. Ivanov stated to have done so in the best interest of the country, and to end the political crisis. His party of appointment, the VMRO-DPMNE allegedly did not agree with his action. Opposition leader Zoran Zaev subsequently called for supporting anti-government protests organized by NGOs.
The protests Demonstrations have begun on 12 April 2016, with reports suggesting that about 4,000+ people took part. Crowds broke through a police cordon towards government buildings, throwing flares at President Ivanov's offices and burning portraits of him. More actions occurred on 14 April, with five police officers being injured from people throwing rocks and one protester being detained.Third Night of Macedonia Protests Ends with Arrests, Injured Police. Novinite. Published 15 April 2016. Retrieved 18 April 2016.Protests continue for 3rd night in Macedonia over pardons. The Washington Post. Published 14 April 2016. Retrieved 19 April 2016. The demonstration that occurred on 16 April and ended peacefully, but on 17 April, protesters threw eggs and stones at the triumphal arc on Skopje.Protests in Macedonia against Ivanov continue. The Sofia Globe. Published 17 April 2016. Retrieved 19 April 2016. Thousands of people demonstrated in Skopje on 15 April, carrying white flags and banners.Protests Continue In Macedonia As Early Elections Set. Radio Liberty. Published 16 April 2016. Retrieved 19 April 2016. On 18 April, it was reported that more than ten thousand people took part in demonstrations in Skopje, with protests also happening in other cities of Macedonia (including Bitola, Strumica and Veles).Protests in Macedonia Gain Momentum as New Round of Political Negotiations Is Announced. Global Voices. Published 19 April 2016. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
The protest on 19 April began in front of the special prosecutor's office, proceeded to parliament and was stopped by police before reaching the EU mission. It numbered in the thousands.Parallel Protests Take Place Across Macedonia. Novinite. Published 20 April 2016. Retrieved 20 April 2016. Several thousand people turned out for demonstrations on the eighth day of the protest, 20 April.Macedonia Protests Continue For More Than A Week. Radio Liberty. Published 20 April 2016. Retrieved 20 April 2016. At this point, throwing colours at various governmental buildings and monuments of the Skopje 2014 project had become a regular feature at the protests, and the term "colourful revolution“ gained some popularity among the protesters and the social media. On the eighth day, journalists also began referring to the protests as "colorful revolution“ - with Kristina Ozimec's article for Deutsche Welle being the first to use the term. Also on that day, Zaev announced that he would not be willing to take part in EU-brokered talks in Vienna (proposed by European Commissioner Johannes Hahn two days earlier) unless certain conditions are met. On 21 April, two rallies were held near each other in Skopje, each attended by thousands of people. One was anti-government, organized by the SDSM and the "Protestiram" (I Protest) organization, while the second was organized by the Citizens for Macedonian Defense (GDOM, in Macedonian), supported by the ruling VMRO party. The anti-government protest started in front of the special prosecutor's building, where protesters shouted "No Justice No Peace" and "Support the SJO" (special prosecution). The pro-government protesters shouted, "No one can harm you Nikola" and carried anti-NATO banners.Rival Rallies end Peacefully in Macedonia Capital. Balkan Insight. Published 22 April 2016. Retrieved 22 April 2016. On 22 April in 11 cities in Macedonia, there were big antigovernment demonstrations organized by "Protestiram" (I Protest) organization and supported by united opposition of Macedonia. On the same day, European Union announced sanctions for politics and persons from VMRO-DPMNE.
On 23 April, the anti-government protests continued in several cities in the country.End of the 11th day of protests . Vesti 24. Published 23 April 2016. Retrieved 23 April 2016. The next day, Zdravko Saveski, member of the collective presidency of the left-wing party The Left and one other member of the same party were put in house custody.Zdravko Saveski and Vladimir Kunovski still under house arrest . Plusinfo.mk. Published 25 April 2016. Retrieved 25 April 2016. Previously, three more protesters were put in house custody. The protests organized by "Protestiram" (I protest) and supported by the opposition and nongovernmental organizations continued in several cities and the between 15,000 and 20,000 demonstrators in Skopje protest in front of the parliament, the several ministry, and in front of the government.The rain does not stop it: Over 20,000 gathered in front of the Assembly . Reporter.mk. Published 25 April 2016. Retrieved 25 April 2016. On 25 April, a large pro-government rally occurred in Bitola, organized by the Citizens for Macedonian Defense (GDOM, in Macedonian), with thousands in attendance. They rallied in support of the planned parliamentary elections on June 5. On Tuesday, 26 April, the anti-government protests begin in new 3 cities: Tetovo, Kičevo and Radoviš, and this day there was protest in 15 cities in Macedonia.Mass protest in Tetovo as part of the colorful revolution . Libertas.mk. Published 26 April 2016. Retrieved 26 April 2016. There was a pro-government rally on April 27, organized by GDOM in the city of Kicevo in support of the planned parliamentary elections on June 5.GDOM in Kicevo: The people demand elections . Published 27 April 2016. Retrieved 27 April 2016. The anti-government protests continued after the holidays on 2 and 3 May in Skopje, Tetovo, Bitola, Prilep, Strumica, Kumanovo and Gevgelija.Marusic, Sinisa Jakov. Macedonians Resume ‘Colourful Revolution’ Protests. Balkan Insight. Published 4 May 2016. Retrieved 4 May 2016. In Skopje, demonstrators protest in front of parliament, government and courts."Colorful Revolution" against politicized judiciary . Radio Liberty. Published 4 May 2016. Retrieved 4 May 2016.