North Macedonia, like other countries in the Western Balkans and across Europe, is not immune to online radicalization. Artificial intelligence, social media, and the crypto market are facilitating recruitment for radical, violent, and terrorist activities. However, practical experience shows that recruitment most often begins through direct, face-to-face contact and continues online, particularly through closed and encrypted applications and groups. There are indications of the presence of extremists in certain social environments, such as gaming clubs, but so far there are no confirmed cases of recruitment through online games in the country.

This is one of the conclusions from the public event titled “Online Radicalization as a Security Challenge for North Macedonia: Risks, Policies and Legal Solutions”, organized by the Institute of Communication Studies (ICS) in cooperation with the National Committee for Preventing Violent Extremism and Countering Terrorism (NCCVECT) on March 24 in Skopje.

Pavle Trajanov, Coordinator of the National Committee, pointed to the link between organized crime and terrorism, as well as the misuse of religion through para-religious structures and quasi-NGOs that serve as channels for financing and disseminating radical propaganda. “In the past two years, 14 drug-related groups have been uncovered in North Macedonia. The dismantling of these groups has had a positive impact on the country’s security and stability. Increasingly, information suggests that terrorists seek to use these organized crime groups to carry out violent activities,” said Trajanov.

The wars in Syria and Iraq prompted a significant number of so-called foreign terrorist fighters from North Macedonia driven by ideological motives, who migrated to conflict zones. According to security expert Boban Stojanovski, the initial processes of radicalization in North Macedonia are linked to individuals who, after completing theological education in Arab countries, promote and practice religion in different ways. In the past two years, there have been several attempts to carry out terrorist attacks in the country, prepared by young individuals born in the late 1990s or early 2000s, indicating a shift in the age threshold.

Stojanovski emphasized the importance of distinguishing between online radicalization through the dissemination of radical content on social media and the use of the online space as a communication tool for preparing violent actions aimed at undermining the constitutional order. “Security and police services should pay attention both to early signs of radicalization on social media and to direct physical contacts taking place in parallel religious facilities outside official institutions,” he said.

Repressive measures and judicial practice indicate a high level of caution in balancing the protection of fundamental human rights with safeguarding national interests and security. Judge Sofija Gavrilova Efremova from the Criminal Court – specialized department for organized crime and corruption cases, highlighted that European judicial practice clearly sets boundaries while still allowing room for case-by-case assessment. “A democratic society must tolerate even controversial views, as long as they do not incite violence. However, the state has an obligation to act when those boundaries are crossed,” the judge stated.

The drafting of a Law on Monitoring and Preventing Radicalization and Violent Extremism is currently underway, coordinated by the National Committee and a working group composed of representatives from relevant institutions. North Macedonia, like other Western Balkan countries, is obliged to implement a set of activities as part of the Joint Action Plan with the European Union for a coordinated national and regional response. These obligations include the adoption of the Action Plan and the Roadmap for the prevention and fight against terrorism and violent extremism for 2026–2030. These government efforts have been positively assessed in recent European Commission reports.

The Committee’s work is focused on strengthening institutional capacities for the prevention and suppression of terrorism, primarily through cooperation with security services (trainings, workshops, study visits abroad, research, etc.). It also collaborates with a large number of non-governmental organizations, with a significant portion of activities supported by foreign funding.

ICS organized this event as part of the project “Tracking, Exposing and Countering Hidden Foreign Interference and Information Manipulation”, supported by the British Embassy in Skopje.