The tragedy in Skopje's Taftalidze neighbourhood took on a new, profoundly painful dimension. After the death of the mother and daughter who fell from a building in Karposh, the victim's brother went public with his testimony about systemic failure and years of domestic violence.

"Years of reported domestic violence, physical and psychological abuse, threats, reports and a murder attempt within state institutions — costing the family their granddaughter and sister. The state allowed young lives to be destroyed," reads his statement.

The family says it had been alarming institutions for years — police and social services — about the violence the woman and child had endured, but without an effective response. There was even a reported attempted murder within the framework of a state institution. However, neither the MVR nor the social services managed to protect the victims.

Reactions on social media were enormous. Many citizens and activists comment that what took place is not an accidental tragedy, but a systemic failure — a system that could not protect women and children who were victims of violence.

The public prosecution says it is gathering evidence and called on more persons with information about the circumstances of the tragedy to come forward. An autopsy of the two victims has been ordered. The family states it will not allow the case to be treated or framed only as a statistic.