He stole 8 jars of "ajvar" and earned three months in prison

This is not the first time that Macedonian courts impose extraordinary penalties to the poor

For eight jars of home made ajvar, one jar of jam, three bottles of juice, which were stolen by N.S. from Kriva Palanka, the court from that city on north east part of Macedonia sentenced him to three months in jail. 

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The sentence was suspended, which means that if N.S. again commit the same "aggravated theft", he will have to go serve prison sentence.

This is not the first time that Macedonian courts impose draconian fines to the poor. People still remember that at the beginning of March this year, a retired driver Milorad Georgievski from Skopje, suburb Lisice had to pay a fine of 10,000 denars (150 euros) because he illegally sold 15 nettles and 20  salads on the market!

Milorad went every day to the market with a bundle of nettle, which he sold for 20 denars to feed my family. His wife does not work, and with him, in a family house, their unemployed son lives with his family, and Milorad was forced to sit all day at the market, hoping to sell at least some nettle.

So it was on that fateful day, when he was approached by the market inspector.

- Yes, I was caught by inspections and they asked me why do i sell and i said i sell to survive. They told me that I have no right to do so if I don't have a license for the agriculture - complained Milorad Georgievski.

To make the misfortune even bigger, Milorad had to pay a fine for 20 salads woman was selling next to him. When she saw the inspection she jumped and ran away, and left Milorad hanging with her salads.

The magistrate sentenced the fine of 150 euros for illegal selling of agricultural products. Milorad begged him not to fine him more than his pension, but the judge was unappealing.

- I will still sell nettle. What can i do, i have to live from something. My children and me need to eat. With 9.000 denars pensions i can't even pay the water bill, nor electricity, let alone to feed my family. I am not a criminal, i did not stole the nettle to sell it - lamented Milorad.

When this story about Milorad and nettle appeared in media, social networks heated up. The public has reacted with sharp criticism of the draconian judgment of the court, and citizens have revolted commented that in this country there is no justice for people who struggle with poverty daily, and always the politicians are spared who are deep in criminal and stuffed millions in their pockets.

People organized over social networks and in record time gathered the money to pay for Milorad's fine.

Something even more striking happened last year in Veles. Basic court in that city in central Macedonia, sentenced to three years in prison Petar Karimanov (31) for stealing from a tavern near the bus station 150 cevaps, 20 burgers, some delicatessen, and few bottles of alcoholic drinks and beers.

The value of stolen goods is estimated to be 100 euros.

What he could not drink or eat, Karimanov shared with his friends, and sold a part of it. And he got 3 years in prison for that.

(Telegraf.co.uk / D.J.)