By decision of the Government, Petar Bogojeski has been appointed as Director of the National Agency for European Educational Programmes and Mobility (Erasmus +) and is scheduled to take office on 15 May 2025. The Network for Protection against Discrimination requests the withdrawal of the decision to appoint Petar Bogojeski as Director of the National Agency for European Educational Programmes and Mobility, due to his statements containing disturbing speech, insults and hate speech, as well as actions that are contrary to European values.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Erasmus+ programme strives to promote equal opportunities and accessibility, inclusion, diversity and fairness in all activities it supports. The programme also values \u200b\u200bnational agencies as key in supporting projects that enable the greatest possible inclusiveness and representation of diversity. To achieve these goals, there is a Framework for Inclusion Measures and a Strategy for Inclusion and Acceptance of Diversity.[1]<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We believe that the appointment of a person who, with his behavior on social media, daily tramples on these principles and despises people who respect them, is not only unfounded, but also an insult to the Program that has existed for more than 35 years and which constantly invests in the development of youth. At the same time, we are extremely concerned by the reaction of the Minister of Education, who, in response to the indications of several stakeholders in society, including the Minister of European Affairs, declared that his work would be monitored with greater focus.[2]<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the other hand, the public has had the opportunity to monitor the work of the appointed director for a long time \u2013 through his statements and comments on social networks. The Network for Protection against Discrimination integrally transmits the statements made and apologizes in advance for quoting words that are not appropriate for any communication, especially not by appointed officials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Expressed views and manner of communication<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Through his social networks (attached), the appointed director Petar Bogojeski has used disturbing speech, insults, hate speech and\/or incitement to discrimination, intolerance and\/or violence towards the following communities:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Macedonians \u2013 In comments to his followers who expressed an opinion contrary to his, he has stated \u201cthere is no simpler than a Macedonian!\u201d, \u201chalf of Macedonians have never read a single book in their lives and they think Bucephalus was a king!\u201d and \u201cThere is no more fugitive people than us\u201d. In other correspondence, he addresses citizens with the words \u201csheep\u201d, \u201cdonkey\u201d, \u201cjanissary cattle\u201d, \u201cone cattle\u201d, \u201cfat\u201d, \u201cilliterate cattle\u201d, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Albanians \u2013 When addressing the Albanian minority, he often uses the word \u201cshiptar\u201d and has stated \u201ca shiptar can only fuck a goat! He is not good for anything else\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Women \u2013 In online discussions with his followers, he has referred to someone\u2019s wives, mothers, aunts, etc. In correspondence with a follower about changing his back, he has stated \u201cnothing on his back, you are missing something, respected lady. But that is God\u2019s work, it is not your fault.\u201d Due to the context, you can find the specific correspondence in the attached photos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People living with HIV \u2013 In correspondence with followers about the appearance of people who are supporters of a different ideology, he has stated \u201coff the hook with HIV68\u201d, \u201cthey don\u2019t know how to read\u2026they are hot! HIV68 beat them\u201d, \u201cthis disorder due to HIV68 is serious\u201d and \u201cit can\u2019t be helped with HIV infection 68\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Political basis: On other occasions, through his profile, the appointed director Petar Bogojeski has directed insults at dissenters (\u201c, \u201cis there anything more stupid than a leftist\u201d, , \u201cyou guys are swindling the rabbit with Jovanka and you even went to Dubai! That\u2019s what the scoundrels are doing\u201d).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Use of offensive and disturbing speech: In correspondence with a follower, who also uses disturbing speech, the appointed director Petar Bogojeski states \u201ccheck your surroundings, whose bastards are they! Don\u2019t let the neighbor get involved?\u201d When asked by a follower whether the question asked was a prize, Bogojeski replies with \u201cyes! You will win a trip to Gaza.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Previous proceedings<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bogojeski is accused of spreading hate speech, especially through social networks. In August 2024, the Vredi Coalition filed criminal charges against him for posts on Facebook that were considered to incite national, racial and religious hatred.[3]<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Activists from several civic associations (Selma Rizvanovi\u0107 Mandal \u2013 Women’s Association EDU NISA Skopje, Adelaide Kari\u0161i\u0107 \u2013 Bosniak Research Center Skopje, Izeta Baba\u010di\u0107 \u2013 Bosniak Women’s Association Divanhana Skopje, Mersiha Smailovi\u0107 \u2013 Citizens’ Association LEGIS Skopje, Muhamed \u0160ukurica \u2013 Bosniak Forum in Macedonia and Jusuf \u010colovi\u0107 \u2013 Citizens’ Association NAFAKA) filed a complaint with the Ministry of Interior for hate speech and threats against Petar Bogojeski, State Counselor at the Ministry of Defense.[4] Due to his expressed views, Bogojeski was also dismissed by the Ministry of Defense.[5]<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Spreading disinformation<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On December 3, 2023, Bogojeski held a press conference in front of the Ministry of Interior and the Prosecutor’s Office, announcing a dangerous, ethnic and colored disinformation about the kidnapping of Vanja Gjorchevska, which set social media ablaze. He claimed that the authorities were covering up a murder, stating that \u201cthe suspects were released from the police station\u201d and asking \u201chave they already been transferred to Kosovo?!?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Precisely because of such speculation that the case has an ethnic background, the Public Prosecutor\u2019s Office emphasized in its statement of December 3, 2023 that all five suspects in the murder are Macedonians.[6]<\/p>\n\n\n\n
*****<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Such views and manner of communication have no place in public discourse, especially not from a named official. There is also no room for minimizing the expressed views of Bogojeski by government representatives, stating that \u201chis work will be monitored in particular, due to the reactions in the public, but nothing can be commented on for now.\u201d The agency that Bogojeski is to lead has a mandate to \u201cstrengthen the role of lifelong learning in creating a sense of European citizenship based on understanding and respect for human rights and democracy and encouraging tolerance and respect for other peoples and cultures.\u201d The purpose of the National Agency for European Educational Programs and Mobility is to work on the promotion and implementation of European programs in the field of education, training, youth and sport in the Republic of North Macedonia. By implementing these programs, the National Agency contributes to the development of the community as a society based on advanced knowledge, with sustainable economic development, more and better jobs and greater social cohesion, while ensuring environmental protection for future generations and especially exchange, cooperation and mobility in the field of education and training. Bogojeski\u2019s views and statements are contrary to the values \u200b\u200bpromoted by European programs such as Erasmus+, which makes him unsuitable for a leading position in an institution that aims to promote European values, inclusiveness and intercultural cooperation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Considering the above, the Network for Protection against Discrimination requests the withdrawal of the appointment of Petar Bogojeski from the position of Director of the National Agency for European Educational Programs and Mobility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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By decision of the Government, Petar Bogojeski has been appointed as Director of the National Agency for European Educational Programmes and Mobility (Erasmus +) and is scheduled to take office on 15 May 2025. The Network for Protection against Discrimination requests the withdrawal of the decision to appoint Petar Bogojeski as Director of the National […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":10721,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[82],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18080","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-public-announcements"],"yoast_head":"\n