Macedonian Human Rights Movement International has launched several cases in the European Court of Human Rights, specifically: to secure the immediate release of Macedonian political prisoners jailed by the SDS/DUI regime in Macedonia; to secure immediate medical attention, thus far denied by the regime, for several political prisoners suffering urgent health issues; to hold the regime accountable for repeated, serious violations of human rights against Macedonians stemming from the forced name change; and to reverse the name change, which was illegally imposed through the "Prespa Agreement" and, in addition to violating multiple human rights conventions to which Macedonia has ratified, is in direct violation of Macedonian and international law, the Macedonian constitution, parliamentary rules and procedures, and thus, having no standing.

The first case that has begun is an emergency interim measure, which is a mechanism made available by the European Court of Human Rights to combat oppressive regimes that have purposely denied medical treatment to those in urgent need. The political prisoner involved requires immediate surgery and despite the obvious need, supplied medical documentation, and repeated requests and appeals to multiple courts, he has been consistently denied.

The second case in which proceedings have begun involves said political prisoner and calls for his immediate release based on the European Court of Human Rights' guiding document, the European Convention on Human Rights, which includes the following Articles:

Article 3 – Prohibition of torture
No one shall be subjected to torture or to inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

Article 5 – Right to liberty and security
(4) Everyone who is deprived of his liberty by arrest or detention shall be entitled to take proceedings by which the lawfulness of his detention shall be decided speedily by a court and his release ordered if the detention is not lawful.

Article 10 – Freedom of expression
(1) Everyone has the right to freedom of expression. This right shall include freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart information and ideas without interference by public authority and regardless of frontiers.

Article 13 – Right to an effective remedy
Everyone whose rights and freedoms as set forth in this Convention are violated shall have an effective remedy before a national authority notwithstanding that the violation has been committed by persons acting in an official capacity.

Article 14 – Prohibition of discrimination
The enjoyment of the rights and freedoms set forth in this Convention shall be secured without discrimination on any ground such as sex, race, colour, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, association with a national minority, property, birth or other status.

The political prisoner in the two cases has asked MHRMI not to name him for fear of reprisals against him and his family.

As proceedings in the cases involving other political prisoners begin, and in all aforementioned cases, MHRMI will be providing updates through subsequent press releases.

Macedonian Human Rights Movement International calls on the international community, human rights organizations, media outlets, journalists, political parties, and all interested in protecting human rights, to join our initiatives and to issue statements in support of them and in defence of Macedonians' rights.

Kindly inform MHRMI of any action undertaken. Our contact information:

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Macedonian Human Rights Movement International (MHRMI) has been active on human and national rights issues for Macedonians and other oppressed peoples since 1986. MHRMI demands respect for Macedonia's name, identity and human rights for oppressed Macedonians in the Balkans. For more information: 1-416-850-7125, info@mhrmi.org, mhrmi.org, twitter.com/mhrmi, facebook.com/mhrmi, instagram.com/MacedonianHumanRights #OurNameIsMacedonia