The fact that the measure of detention has not been pronounced in MP Vlado Buckovski's case is very bad for the credibility and professionalism of the courts, senior court officials told Vreme. In their view, investigative judge Katica Jovanovska's decision not to detain the prime suspect Buckovski over his involvement in the dubious procurement of spare parts for tanks in 2001 was utterly unprofessional.

"Judge Jovanovska has thus blotted the credibility of all judges and demonstrated that when courts are under a political influence they take irrelevant decisions. It's illogical not to detain a prime suspect in a case in which the state has been cheated off 3 million euros, while taking into custody persons suspected of taking bribe of 200-300 denars," they say.