Illegal migrants abused in Macedonia - reports

Illegal migrants abused in Macedonia - reports

A migrant from Syria was quoted as saying that "even the Macedonian police" robbed them of their money and documents, and subjected them to beatings.

Another accused the police of torture and setting dogs on them, adding that one police officer "pointed a pistol at us."

"They put us in cars, take us to the border, and when they throw us out of the cars they start beating us," another said.

According to the BBC, the Macedonian police "has difficulties facing these problems."

A spokesman for the Macedonian Interior Ministry, Ivo Koteski, said recently that some policemen have are suspected of attacking illegal immigrants, while many others are have been accused of belonging to international migrant trafficking rings.

The report also said the UN, Macedonian human rights groups and the Office of the Citizens Ombudsman all warned about "inhumane conditions" in migrant centers.

The Macedonian media are quoting the British broadcaster as reporting that migrants are often kidnapped in the town of Kumanovo and held prisoner until they pay ransom, while there have also been rape cases.