Tag: balkan insight

After two recent mass shootings in Serbia, one at a school in Belgrade, there was a surge of attempted copycat attacks in the Balkan region, but also a series of digital violations including the spread of misinformation, breaches of privacy, fake footage and misleading claims.

Albania experienced several disturbing incidents of its own, including a fake gun scare at a school in Tirana and a fatal stabbing stemming from an online feud in Gramshi, highlighting the role of online platforms in escalating conflicts among Albanian youth.

In Montenegro, incidents such as a concerning Facebook post by a pupil in Zabljak and threats made on a school’s Viber group in Podgorica highlighted the delicate balance between freedom of expression and the responsibility for safety within society, while Croatia faced its own challenges following the Serbian mass shooting, with incidents including a ‘hit list’ made by a student from Bjelovar being circulated on TikTok and a gun photo being shared in a Zagreb school’s WhatsApp group.

Following the mass shootings in Serbia, threats were made on social media in Bosnia and Herzegovina and a young man was arrested after allegedly announcing online that he planned to replicate the violence.

In Kosovo, false information was spread online through the sharing of misleading articles and recycled misinformation, while a threatening message was posted on Instagram in North Macedonia.

False reports and videos in Serbia

The mass shooting by a teenager at the Vladislav Ribnikar Elementary School in Belgrade on May 3, in which eight students and a teacher were killed, sent shockwaves through society and was followed by online violations such as the circulation of fake footage, the invasion of victims’ relatives’ privacy and the proliferation of misinformation.

A man reacts as he walks past police officers blocking a street near the ‘Vladislav Ribnikar’ elementary school in Belgrade, Serbia, 03 May 2023. Photo: EPA-EFE/ANDREJ CUKIC

The right to privacy of the families who were affected was violated by the tabloid website Republika, which on May 9 published a sensationalist report about the funeral proceedings, contravening Serbia’s journalistic code and inflicting further anguish on the grieving families.

False reports also began to circulate on media websites and social networks. Unfounded claims emerged that a wounded teacher had also succumbed to their injuries, that vaccinated citizens were ineligible as blood donors, and that N1 TV had demanded the release of the suspect.

Days after the shooting, a video claiming to depict the school massacre was circulated on social media. The footage was shared widely on TikTok on May 6, but closer scrutiny revealed that it was not from Belgrade but had been taken during a different school shooting in the United States.

On May 6, another video surfaced on TikTok, purporting to show students from the school that was targeted in Belgrade bullying the perpetrator. Accompanied by captions insinuating that the footage captured the moments preceding the massacre or depicted the treatment that the perpetrator endured at the school, the video gained widespread circulation.

However, it was soon discovered that the video was unrelated to the Belgrade incident and originated from a school in Russia several months earlier.

Violence in Albania echoes Serbian shooting

On May 10, Albanian media outlet Gazetatema.net published a video showing the mass shooting in Serbia. In the days following the shooting, there were also two violent incidents in Albania involving young men and weapons.

Police officers close off the crime scene at Cetinje, Montenegro, 12 August 2022. Photo: EPA-EFE/BORIS PEJOVIC

The first incident happened in Farka in Tirana when a 20-year-old male entered a schoolyard and discharged shots into the air using a fake gun, inciting fear among students and staff. The motives behind the incident remain under investigation.

In the second incident, a 15-year-old Albanian lost his life in a stabbing near his school in Gramshi. The stabbing occurred as a direct result of an online feud between the attackers and the victim’s cousin.

Online threats made in Montenegro

In the aftermath of the mass shooting in Serbia, there were also two online incidents in Montenegro that were reported to have been related to the crime in Belgrade.

The first incident unfolded in the town of Zabljak, where Montenegrin police questioned a 13-year-old pupil after he wrote a Facebook post that alarmed the authorities.

The pupil wrote: “I understand the shooter in the Serbian elementary school. I would do the same, but I don’t have access to guns.” The authorities took his statement seriously and initiated an investigation. However, charges were eventually dropped, with the prosecution urging local social workers and the school to intervene and address the situation.

In another case, Montenegrin police questioned a pupil from an elementary school in Podgorica after threats were made in the school’s Viber group. The school management reported that the pupil had sent a photo of a gun along with a list of students he intended to harm.

Prompt action was taken by the authorities, who questioned the pupil and his parents, and the plastic gun was handed over to the police. The outcome of the investigation has not yet been made public.

Illustration of TikTok logo displayed on a phone in Los Angeles, California, USA, 17 May 2023. Photo: EPA-EFE/CAROLINE BREHMAN

Croatia faces school safety concerns

In the aftermath of the mass shooting in Serbia, there were also two incidents involving school students in Croatia.

On May 12, a pupil in the city of Bjelovar who claimed to have drawn inspiration from the shooting in Belgrade compiled a ‘hit list’ containing the names of her classmates. The list allegedly surfaced on the popular social media platform TikTok before being removed after the student was detained by the police.

However, concerns remained as it is possible that screenshots of the list might still be circulating privately among other students. The student was expelled from the school the same day.

In another incident that occurred on May 18 at the Dragutin Domjanic Elementary School in Gajnice in Zagreb, an eighth-grade boy who had argued with a friend allegedly took a photo of a gun and bullets at his home and shared it in a WhatsApp group.

The school promptly contacted the police, who reportedly spoke with the boy. The parents sent a message saying that the boy was under supervision at home and that everyone was safe, while the school emphasised that students should continue attending classes as usual because the overall safety of the school was being maintained.

Copycat shooting threatened in Bosnia

In the wake of the mass shooting in Serbia, a young man in Bosnia and Herzegovina threatened a copycat incident in the city of Bihac. The young man posted a threatening message on Instagram, claiming to be preparing to stage a massacre at a school of economics. Police arrested him on charges of endangering security and terrorism. Reuters reported that he had a history of threats and bullying on social media and that charges against him were dropped last year because he was too young to be prosecuted.

Meanwhile, a threatening video was circulated on social media, made by a man from the town of Banovici who said he was going to commit a massacre in Bosnia and Herzegovina, linking it to the recent mass shooting in Serbia. Authorities from both countries worked together to identify the individual and prevent any potential violence.

Incidents in Kosovo and North Macedonia

In Kosovo, a misleading article entitled “SERIOUS: The Moment When a 14-Year-Old Kills His Classmates in Serbia is Published” was published by the Sprint.al website. The article claimed to feature a video depicting the Belgrade school shooting.

However, investigations by BIRN Kosovo’s Kryptometer team revealed that the video was not filmed in Serbia, as claimed, but in Mexico in 2017.

Meanwhile in North Macedonia, a student from the Slavcho Stojmenski high school in Shtip posted a threatening message on Instagram on May 11 and was subsequently detained by the police. The motives behind the student’s actions have not yet been made public.

Bosnia has been covered by Elma Selimovic and Aida Trepanić, Albania by Nensi Bogdani, North Macedonia by Bojan Stojkovski, Montenegro by Samir Kajosevic, Kosovo by Diedon Nixha, Croatia by Matej Augustin and Serbia by Bojan Perkov and Ninoslava Bogdanović of SHARE Foundation

The Balkan region has witnessed a significant increase in internet penetration and the integration of Biometrics and Digital Identity BDI technologies into various sectors, BIRN research shows.

Between 2020 and 2023, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Kosovo and Serbia all experienced a notable increase in cyberattacks, specifically phishing and ransomware incidents.

BIRN has mapped 40 cases and has collated data on notable cyberattacks targeting the Balkan region’s BDI systems into a database. Research focused on cases that resulted in a significant data breach and/or compromised large amounts of data.

Data collection involved document analysis, case study examination and interviews with IT employees. These approaches provide insights into the state of BDI and cybersecurity threats in the Balkan region, as well as notable cyberattacks targeting critical infrastructure and public institutions.

The research shows a prevalence of cyberattacks targeting critical online infrastructure, services and computers. Inadequate public awareness and cybersecurity policies, and limited regional collaboration, have exacerbated the challenges the Balkan countries face in combating cybercrime.

The public sector, banks and individual citizens were primary targets of these cyberattacks. Perpetrators exploited vulnerabilities in the digital infrastructure and security measures of both private and public entities. 

A growing reliance on biometrics and digital identity in online banking, e-government services and border control is a key regional trend. Technological advances aimed at improving security and efficiency drove this reliance. However, implementing BDI systems has raised concerns about protecting individuals’ privacy, data, and the potential misuse of personal information. 

Addressing cybersecurity threats in the Balkan region requires increased public awareness, improved cybersecurity policies and practices and enhanced regional collaboration. 

The Balkan region faces significant risks and opportunities due to its growing reliance on biometrics and digital identity. Balancing security with privacy and data protection is crucial in this context.

The Balkan region has witnessed a significant increase in internet penetration and the integration of Biometrics and Digital Identity BDI technologies into various sectors, BIRN research shows.

Between 2020 and 2023, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Kosovo and Serbia all experienced a notable increase in cyberattacks, specifically phishing and ransomware incidents. 

BIRN has mapped 40 cases and has collated data on notable cyberattacks targeting the Balkan region’s BDI systems into a database. Research focused on cases that resulted in a significant data breach and/or compromised large amounts of data.

Data collection involved document analysis, case study examination and interviews with IT employees. These approaches provide insights into the state of BDI and cybersecurity threats in the Balkan region, as well as notable cyberattacks targeting critical infrastructure and public institutions. 

The research shows a prevalence of cyberattacks targeting critical online infrastructure, services and computers. Inadequate public awareness and cybersecurity policies, and limited regional collaboration, have exacerbated the challenges the Balkan countries face in combating cybercrime.

The public sector, banks and individual citizens were primary targets of these cyberattacks. Perpetrators exploited vulnerabilities in the digital infrastructure and security measures of both private and public entities. 

A growing reliance on biometrics and digital identity in online banking, e-government services and border control is a key regional trend. Technological advances aimed at improving security and efficiency drove this reliance. However, implementing BDI systems has raised concerns about protecting individuals’ privacy, data, and the potential misuse of personal information. 

Addressing cybersecurity threats in the Balkan region requires increased public awareness, improved cybersecurity policies and practices and enhanced regional collaboration. 

The Balkan region faces significant risks and opportunities due to its growing reliance on biometrics and digital identity. Balancing security with privacy and data protection is crucial in this context.

Cyberttacks reveal cracks in North Macedonia’s defences

North Macedonia has become a target of almost relentless hacker attacks, placing various state institutions in jeopardy. These attacks are a sobering reminder of the country’s inadequate cyber security capabilities, leaving it ill-prepared and vulnerable. An attack on the Health Insurance Fund in February 2023 for example disrupted its operations for several weeks, exposing gaps in cyber security.

The Agriculture Ministry’s experience in September 2022 further exposed the weaknesses in the government’s defences; its staff had limited internet access for over a month following a cyberattack. 

These incidents have shed light on the urgent need for the government in Skopje to invest in strengthening its cyber security infrastructure and safeguarding sensitive data and systems from malicious actors.

Multiple leaks of email addresses and passwords from various ministries have also raised concerns. These breaches underscore the importance of bolstering cyber security measures across government entities. Recognizing these challenges, the country’s national centre for responding to computer incidents has conducted a report outlining noteworthy trends based on cybersecurity incidents.

One concerning trend highlighted in the report is the increasing number of Macedonian websites falling victim to hacking, particularly through phishing tactics. Attackers often install malicious content on server operating systems, allowing them to compromise websites. The report emphasizes the urgency of addressing this issue.

Another alarming development involves Macedonian public IPv4 addresses being identified abroad as sources of attacks and data theft from foreign servers. This discovery raises concerns about the security of these addresses, necessitating enhanced measures to prevent such activities and protect sensitive information.

A case involving compromising email accounts of government and public sector organizations in North Macedonia is of particular significance. Attackers exploited vulnerabilities in mail servers to send phishing emails from compromised accounts. This highlights the critical importance of securing email systems and preventing unauthorized access.

Furthermore, several North Macedonian organizations have fallen victim to cyberattacks due to compromises or vulnerabilities in their email servers. In some instances, hackers executed ransomware attacks by exploiting unaddressed vulnerabilities. These incidents underscore the need for robust security measures to protect against evolving threats.

Cyberattack motive per country in per cents.

Distributed Denial of Service or DDoS attacks have also posed a significant threat, targeting numerous institutions and organisations in North Macedonia over the past few years. These attacks disrupt services by overwhelming servers with an overwhelming amount of traffic.

According to MKD-CIRT’s report, the number of reported incidents increased from 1,443 in 2020 to 1,880 in 2021. However, it is worth noting that these figures include malicious activities detected outside the country, where Macedonian IP addresses were identified as the source of harmful activities. This highlights the need for collaborative efforts to combat cyber threats beyond national borders.

The escalating wave of cyber attacks and the vulnerabilities exposed in North Macedonia’s cyber security apparatus necessitates urgent action. Strengthening defences, investing in advanced technologies and fostering international cooperation are vital to safeguarding the country’s critical infrastructure, sensitive data, and digital systems from malicious actors in an increasingly interconnected world.

Cyberattacks Targeting Industries and Institutions in Kosovo Prompt Action

Over the past three years, Kosovo has faced a significant number of cyberattacks targeting various industries. Among the most common attacks are password thefts from social networks. Some notable attacks include wealth gain schemes, attacks on banks, hacking of politician profiles, and various scams.

In April 2020, Banka Ekonomike, one of Kosovo’s largest banks, fell victim to a ransomware attack known as DoppelPaymer. According to a threat assessment by the Danish Centre for Cyber Security in 2021, the hackers leaked over 70 GB of data, including sensitive information such as clients’ names, credit card numbers, income details and client loans. The leaked data also contained sensitive information about bank employees.

Just five months later, in September 2020, the Facebook account of former Deputy Interior Minister Zafir Berisha was hacked. The incident occurred shortly after Berisha was appointed Kosovo’s National Cyber Security Coordinator. As of April 2023, there is no official information on the identity of the hackers.

Target in the countries in per cents.

Public institutions in Kosovo have been targeted with phishing. The Ministry of Interior confirmed phishing cyberattacks in February 2022, although it said no infrastructure damage or significant harm occurred. These phishing attacks, where institutions receive fraudulent emails appearing to be from official sources, are quite frequent.

All reported cases have been handed over to the police, but there is no official update on the progress of investigations. 

Due to the lack of a centralized approach to combating hackers, Kosovo has introduced a legal foundation to prevent cybercrime. As part of a proposed bill to enhance computer security, a State Authority for Cyber Security will be established.

Furthermore, in response to the cyberattacks, the government has proposed the creation of an Agency for Cyber Security. In September 2022, the government approved a draft cyber security law that includes the formation of this agency. 

The law aims to strengthen computer security in Kosovo, and additional measures include establishing a 24/7 contact point within the police. These initiatives seek to bolster the country’s defences and protect against future cyber threats.

Bosnia grapples with rising cyberattacks and data leaks

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, there have been 11 cases of data leaks resulting from hacking attacks since 2020, BIRN research reveals. Ransomware and phishing campaigns were the most prevalent types of attacks.

One of the most recent notable cases occurred in September 2022 when a ransomware attack targeted the servers of the Parliament of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The parliament’s website and computers were rendered inaccessible for over two weeks.

However, many hacking incidents remain hidden from the public. The Ministry of Interior of Republika Srpska, one of the two entities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, reported 23 registered ransomware attacks during the targeted period.

Regarding phishing campaigns, Police recorded 107 such attacks, mainly targeting individuals. The police spokesperson for Republika Srpska noted the complexity of accurately registering such cases, as they can be classified as the creation and introduction of computer viruses, computer sabotage, unauthorized access to protected computers, computer networks, telecommunications networks, or electronic data processing.

In the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bosnia’s other entity, Police reported a total of 117 cyberattacks; 33 were ransomware attacks, with the majority targeting private companies and individuals. Public institutions were subjected to various hacking attacks on 30 different occasions during the monitored period.

Type of attack depending on the target in per cents.

In September 2022, Bosnia’s Intelligence-Security Agency OSA urged institutions and individuals to safeguard their information and communication systems due to increased cyberattacks. OSA emphasized the importance of conducting security assessments and implementing protective measures promptly to proactively prevent attacks. They also highlighted their cooperation with domestic and international partners to counter the intensifying threats.

The first report on cyber threats in Bosnia and Herzegovina revealed that the country faces millions of cyberattacks each month. However, it lacks the necessary strategies, legislation and capacity to protect its citizens, institutions, and companies effectively.

During November 2022, over 9.2 million distinct cyberattacks targeted a wide range of entities in Bosnia, as highlighted in a report presented by the Center for Cybersecurity Excellence, CSEC, and BIRN in mid-April.

From Ransomware to Phishing, Serbia Faces Persistent Wave of Attacks

Serbia has seen its share of cyberattacks over the past years, from major national incidents to almost daily phishing and scam campaigns. 

The first one coincided with the Covid-19 pandemic. In early March 2020, the local public utility company Informatika in Novi Sad, Serbia’s second largest city, was hit by ransomware compromising its infrastructure and employees’ data. 

Another big cyber threat occurred in May two years later, blocking the databases of the Republic Geodetic Authority for nine days, with the attack, launched from five IP addresses, involving two malwares and Phobos ransomware.

Public institutions were not the only ones targeted. According to international cyber security platforms and watchdogs, hacker groups, such as LockBit and Quilin claimed they attacked BIG CEE and Gigatron, two large private companies and chains, and obtained their financial and employees’ data. 

Malware, ransomware, phishing and, to a degree, Distributed Denials of Service, DDos, are the main threats. According to the National CERT of the Republic of Serbia, the information security organisation, the most common incidents in 2020 and 2021 involved attempted intrusions into ICT systems and unauthorized data collection. In that period, around 40 million cyberattacks on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) systems occurred.

Phishing campaigns remain one of the most widespread methods jeopardizing the cyber security of government, but also the financial sector. 

Numerous banks have warned their clients of ongoing phishing and scam emails being circulated, with perpetrators setting up fake social media accounts and organizing fraudulent giveaways. Another frequent target of phishing campaigns was the public enterprise Post of Serbia. Scammers use Viber and other messaging apps, or email, to allegedly inform recipients that their packages are held and that they need to pay money to recover them. 

Although these cases get reported, a recent report by the State Auditing Institution points out that communication between institutions and the National CERT needs to improve, as public and governmental bodies and companies often do not inform the authorities of incidents. For that reason, some attacks remain unidentified for a long period, increasing the risk and damage to the information infrastructure and data.

Type of attack per country in per cents.

Cyber activists have discovered that the app MojDoktor [My Doctor], used for health appointments and connecting Serbian health centres with the integrated information system, was exploited for almost three years. This included several email servers from a local health centre, which were used for spam, phishing, but also malware and virus attacks.

Most cases in the past three years were reported to the Special Prosecution Office for High Tech Crime and Organised Crime. However, the perpetrators often remain unknown, and court epilogues are few. 

Series of cyber intrusions shakes Albania

Albania has faced several cyberattacks that have targeted its key institutions and businesses. These attacks have caused significant disruptions and raised concerns about cybersecurity.

One notable incident occurred on January 30, 2023, when Air Albania, a prominent airline company, fell victim to a cyberattack. The attackers, identified as the LockBit ransomware group, claimed they infiltrated Air Albania’s online infrastructure to extort a ransom. They claimed to have stolen and encrypted the company’s data, demanding payment for its release. 

The ransom notice was displayed on the LockBit group’s Dark Web Tor Blog page. Despite the attack, Air Albania assured the public that its data remained secure and that system updates were being implemented. The company did not comment further on the incident.

Another significant cyber incident involved Credins Bank, one of Albania’s largest financial institutions. On December 23, 2022, Credins Bank had to suspend its online services due to a cyberattack orchestrated by the Homeland Justice group. The attackers claimed they targeted the bank in response to the Albanian government’s support for the Iranian opposition group, MEK. 

In a concerning development, Homeland Justice shared documents allegedly obtained from the bank on one of their Telegram channels. The bank did not confirm the authenticity of these leaked documents, titled “ALLAccountsCustomers.zip,” which cautioned against their circulation.

The Albania Police Supervisory Agency also faced a cyber threat. On September 21, 2021, the agency reported an attempted attack on its servers. The attack was successfully blocked, however, and the agency stated that no data had been stolen.

The most significant cyber incident to date in Albania occurred on July 15, 2022, when the government’s centralized e-services system was breached. This breach affected various government infrastructure, resulting in the gradual leakage of sensitive information over several months. 

The attackers, masquerading as the Homeland Justice group on social network accounts, exposed emails belonging to the State Police director and a list of employees from the secret services. 

Microsoft Threat Intelligence investigations revealed that the initial access to the system occurred in May 2021 through a vulnerability in a SharePoint Server. By July 2021, the attackers had fortified their access using a misconfigured service account. Ransomware and wiper malware were employed to achieve their objectives. 

Microsoft and the FBI suggested that Iran might be behind the attack, leading Albania to sever diplomatic relations with Iran as a response. Iran has denied involvement, but Albania believes Tehran was responsible due to its decision to grant refuge to an Iranian opposition movement that is considered a terrorist group by the Iranian government.

These cyber incidents in Albania highlight the growing threat of cybercrime and the need for enhanced cybersecurity measures to protect critical infrastructure and businesses. The attacks have not only caused disruptions but also strained diplomatic relations. Albania’s government and institutions must remain vigilant and collaborate with international partners to strengthen their cybersecurity defences and mitigate future risks.

Journalists involved in conducting this research are Igor Ispanovic, Azem Kurtic, Gjergj Erebara, Xheneta Murtezaj, and Bojan Stojkovski.

Lumturije Qamili was used to being contacted by business clients via WhatsApp, so when she saw a new message from an unknown number one day in late 2021, she instinctively opened it. The sexually-explicit content she was confronted with was offensive, but there was something familiar in the way it was written.

A friend of Qamili and a cousin had both shown her similar messages they had received months earlier, containing the same kind of vulgar content and the same spelling errors. They suspected the same person was harassing them, using a dialect of Albanian that pointed to their hometown, Kicevo in North Macedonia.

On January 4, 2022, Qamili posted screenshots of the messages on Facebook and Instagram, and in no time at all 16 women got in touch to say the same thing had happened to them. The phone numbers were different, but the spelling mistakes were not.

Qamili encouraged the others to go to the police, but they were reluctant – some were married, others engaged. Almost no one wanted to run the risk of being shamed for someone else’s wrongdoing.

The next day, Qamili walked into the police station in Kicevo, armed with the screenshots, and reported that she was being harassed on social media.

“I reported the case on January 5, 2022, after realising that the same thing happened to many other girls,” she told BIRN. One of them was Mona [not her real name], who also went to the police the same day, accompanied by her husband.

Mona had been harassed for months on WhatsApp, Viber and, later, Facebook by an account under the name of ‘Agron’. He called her at work, using the same number that Qamili had been contacted from.

The case, however, has yet to be solved.

North Macedonia has since amended the Criminal Code to better address such cases and keep pace with the changing nature of such threats, but implementation will be key, argue experts, who say such harassment can have a lasting impact on its victims.

“Shame and guilt are often connected, and considering that such experiences often place guilt on the victim, the victim herself experiences guilt that she may be responsible for something like this,” said Kicevo psychologist Valdeta Adili. “Victims are dominated by fear and often show somatic symptoms in disordered eating, sleeping, anxiety, and isolation.”

The town of KIcevo in North Macedonia. Photo by Kicevo Municipality

Protected on paper, but in practice?

In February this year, amendments to North Macedonia’s Penal Code recognised for the first time stalking and online harassment as crimes.

The move came two years after it emerged that explicit pictures and personal information of women and girls were being shared between thousands of members of a Telegram group in North Macedonia called Public Room.

The law now foresees a fine or prison sentence of up to three years for anyone convicted of stalking, harassment, abuse or intimidation, in person or in written form, or misusing someone’s personal data. The penalties are greater if the perpetrator is a current or former intimate partner of the victim or if the crime is committed against a child.

Lidija Petkoska, an MP from the opposition VMRO-DPMNE party who has actively pushed for changes to the law to address the issue, welcomed the amendments and expressed hope that would provide “a certain guarantee and protection for victims who suffer any kind of violence”.

But she voiced concern that state institutions in North Macedonia are still not sufficiently gender-sensitised or have the mechanisms in place to respond in a timely manner.

“No matter how good and well-intentioned the laws are, they have been made in vain if they do not work in reality,” Petkoska told BIRN. “A woman’s safety from harassment, that is, from violence, is extremely important and must be a priority in society.”

Women, however, have little faith in the institutions that should protect them, according to research published in September 2021 by the ‘Ladybug’ Centre for Equal Opportunities, based in the western town of Tetovo. 

Two-thirds of female respondents between the ages of 18 and 25 reported receiving messages from boys or men containing various forms of sexual harassment, hate speech, threats, or insults. They reported feelings of fear, anxiety, self-isolation, and depression after the messages. But only 3.8 per cent of these went to the police.

Immage by Pixabay

Speed is key

A month after Qamili and Mona reported the harassment, Qamili received a letter from the police saying that the number she received the messages from did not exist. Qamili binned the letter and lost hope that the perpetrator would ever be found. She speculated that the police may know his identity, but failed to act. “The letter I got was just a formality,” Qamili told BIRN.

Mona received a phone call, during which a police officer told her they had been unable to trace her harasser because the phone number had been bought without an ID and was not registered.

Under the law in North Macedonia, since 2014 it is possible to buy a SIM card without an ID, but it cannot be activated without one.

“I have no idea who he was,” said Mona. “I left the country a couple of weeks later and didn’t have the chance to continue insisting he be found.”

An IT expert, who asked to remain anonymous, told BIRN that in such investigations, speed is of the essence in determining the geolocation of the device in question. Delay gives the perpetrator time to physically destroy the device or the SIM, and the digital trail can disappear.

Despite what Qamili and Mona were told, the police told BIRN that the case was still active.

“[…] we inform you that immediately after receiving the reports at the police station of Kicevo, in order to clarify the case the Public Prosecutor’s Office of the Republic of North Macedonia was notified and a request was submitted for the provision of data for the owner of the phone numbers from which number the harassment was carried out,” the police said in a written response. “Once the case is resolved, we will notify you accordingly.”

Even if the perpetrator is found, the new crimes incorporated into the Penal Code in February this year would not apply, said legal expert Vedije Ratkoceri. But that does not mean another criminal offence may apply.

“Even if the police manage to identify the harasser now, the harasser would not be able to be prosecuted for a criminal offence that has been incorporated into the Penal Code with the amendments of February 2023,” Ratkoceri told BIRN. 

“This means that in order to accuse someone of a criminal offence, the person must be incriminated under a criminal offence in the Penal Code at the time the action was committed.”

Lidija Petkoska, an MP from the opposition VMRO-DPMNE party who has actively pushed for changes to the law to address the issue. Photo by VMRO-DPMNE

Sowing fear

Qamili said that the harasser of her and the other women would often ask to meet his victims, a fact she found even more worrying.

“I’m almost 30 years old, and I know how to deal with such cases,” Qamili said. “I was afraid that the same thing could happen to a young girl who probably doesn’t know how to react in such cases; they could be afraid or even agree to meet the abuser.”

BIRN asked the police whether any female minors had reported being harassed last year but received no response.

Mona said the phone calls were particularly disturbing, occurring as they did when she was alone at work on the late shift. “I was scared because I didn’t know who it could be and didn’t know his intention,” she said.

Adili, the psychologist, said fear is a common response.

“Of course, the same situation does not affect everyone in the same way, and it depends on the personality of the person, on the circumstances in which he/she finds himself/herself, but in essence it remains a traumatic experience,” Adili told BIRN.

The fact that so many victims fail to go to the police reflects a belief that nothing will be done, she said, as well as a tendency to play down the seriousness of such harassment.

“When we talk about trauma, we always revisit it, but this is necessary to overcome it,” she said.

“The reason for not reporting is often the minimisation of harassment or the denial that something like this is not normal. There are also matters of the personal boundaries that we build and keep in relation to the environment in which we live.”

Qamili said she never feared for her own safety, but for the safety of others.

“I think the harasser himself was trying to hide, but I was worried that he could be dangerous for Kicevo.”