Person draped in Albanian flag in Kumanovo forcefully removes plaque with Serbia's emblem

The Serbian Embassy in North Macedonia expressed deep concern and strongly condemned the violent removal of the plaque from the Consulate in Kumanovo, describing it as an act of vandalism. The embassy also expressed confidence that the perpetrator would be identified and prosecuted as soon as possible, according to their statement.

The incident occurred yesterday, late in the evening, when a young man draped in an Albanian flag forcefully removed the plaque bearing the state emblem of the Republic of Serbia and the inscription "Consulate of the Republic of Serbia in Kumanovo – Honorary Consul," written in both Serbian and Macedonian.

"The Serbian Embassy in Skopje expresses deep concern over yesterday's desecration of Serbia's state symbols and the endangerment of the security of the premises of the Serbian Consulate in Kumanovo, especially considering that this is not the first time diplomatic and consular facilities or residences of Serbian diplomatic personnel have been the target of vandalism in the territory of North Macedonia," the statement emphasized.

The Embassy highlighted its full cooperation with the relevant authorities in North Macedonia to ensure the perpetrator of this violent act is identified and prosecuted as quickly as possible. The perpetrator's identity can be unequivocally determined based on available footage from security cameras.

"The Serbian Embassy remains committed to fostering friendly relations with North Macedonia and is confident that the relevant authorities in the host country, in the spirit of strong bilateral ties and good neighborliness, will take all necessary measures to resolve this case appropriately," the statement concluded.