Violation of human rights of the archaeologist Vasko Gligorijevic
26.8.2009
WRITTEN QUESTION E-4224/09
by Athanasios Plevris (EFD)
to the Commission
The historian and archaeologist Vasko Gligorijevic has twice been arrested — in January 2009 and July 2009 — by the Skopje (FYROM) Government which has also illegally detained him without charge in a psychiatric clinic.
Mr Gligorijevic is being persecuted by the Skopje Government and is living in fear of his life because of his scientific research.
He is being forced to interrupt his academic activities and is constantly receiving death threats. The reason for this persecution is that Mr Gligorijevic is conducting scientific research leading in a direction contrary to the propaganda about ‘Macedonian’ identity being propagated by the official government in Skopje: the thrust of his research findings is there is no connection between the Skopje State and the term ‘Macedonia’ and its historical dimension.
In view of the above, will the Commission say:
- 1.Is it aware of the persecution of Vasko Gligorijevic by the Skopje government? If so, what are its views on this matter?
- 2.Does it know whether the imprisonment of Mr Gligorijevic is in breach of international law on the protection of the person and scientific research and Articles 3, 18 and 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which refer to the protection of liberty, security of the person and freedom of opinion and expression?
- 3.Does it intend to take measures to protect the human rights of Vasko Gligorijevic and any other citizens who express divergent views on the question of the historicity and the name of Macedonia and are being subjected to persecution by the Skopje Government?
OJ C 10 E, 14/01/2011