The incident in Skopje on Saturday, when the supporters of the idea for the building of a church on the city square beat up the group of protestors who oppose this idea, provoked condemnation, disgust, and concern over the right to protest publicly. Both the ruling and opposition parties condemned this incident, assessing it as a political scenario organized by the other side. The president, prime minister, police, and the student organizations also commented on the incident. The main criticism is directed at the police, who failed to prevent the violence against the protestors. The authorities stressed the family ties of some organizers of the protest with SDSM members.

"The right to a peaceful protest is guaranteed with the Constitution of the Republic of Macedonia and it cannot be obstructed or prevented, be it for religious commitment or party obedience. It is impermissible for such aggression and violence to take place in the presence of the police at a previously announced protest. This is evidence of irresponsible conduct by the Interior Ministry, unless the ministry itself is part of this scenario," stresses the statement released by President Branko Crvenkovski's Cabinet. He called on the Government, especially the Interior Ministry, instead of charging the organizers of the protests with a misdemeanor, to look for those accountable within its own ranks, to identify the thugs and take them before court.