Transparency International Macedonia continues to carry out its regular monthly activities for monitoring cases and activities related to corrupt behavior and the fight against corruption, which we’ve named “Light & Dark”
The monitoring of these cases has received significant attention, both in the public sphere and among domestic and foreign relevant stakeholders, and over time, it has evolved into a relevant indicator for measuring corruption and assessing the government’s willingness to address this issue.
“DARK” OCCURRENCES FOR MAY 2025
Administered therapy that worsened the condition of cancer patients – details of the indictment against the directors and doctors from the Oncology Clinic – The Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office Skopje has completed the investigation and submitted two indictments to the Basic Criminal Court Skopje in the case “Oncology.” The first indictment, which concerns the financial operations of the Clinic, involves two individuals. The first defendant, in the capacity of an official – Medical Director, and the second defendant, in the capacity of Organizational Director of the Clinic, are charged with prolonged criminal offenses – Abuse of Official Position and Authority, Fraud in Office, and Embezzlement in Office. Most of the actions were committed as co-perpetrators during the period from 2018 to 2022. The criminal offense of Abuse of Official Position was committed by exceeding the limits of their official authority and failing to perform their official duties in the procedures for the procurement of medications, acting contrary to the Law on Health Protection, the Law on Health Insurance, the Statute of the Clinic, the Law on Budgets, and the Law on Public Procurement. Through these actions, they obtained significant material benefit for another party and caused damage to the Budget of the Republic of North Macedonia in a total amount of over 2.2 billion denars.
The Administrative Court annulled the decision to appoint Dukovska as Constitutional Court judge – An improperly conducted selection procedure, during which the Judicial Council did not review all candidates equally and did not adhere to the criteria outlined in the Law on the Judicial Council, is the reason why the Administrative Court annulled the decision to appoint Elizabeta Dukovska as a judge of the Constitutional Court. According to the court ruling, in this particular case, the Judicial Council made the decision to appoint a judge to the Constitutional Court without fully reviewing all nominated candidates. Due to a lack of materials and information about the candidates, Council members were unable to conduct a thorough analysis of their expertise and contributions to legal theory. Although the Law on the Judicial Council requires the fulfillment of specific criteria for selection, these were not formally verified before the vote.
Lack of transparency in the negotiation process – Reaction from the Platform of Civil Society Organizations for the Fight Against Corruption regarding the agreement between Macedonia and the UK – The Platform of Civil Society Organizations for the Fight Against Corruption has raised concerns about the lack of transparency in the negotiation process of the agreement between the Government of the Republic of North Macedonia and the Government of the United Kingdom regarding a partnership for the implementation of infrastructure projects—referred to by the Government as a “Government-to-Government Agreement.” This is already the second agreement of this kind, and just like the one signed with the Republic of Hungary, it has been concluded without the public being previously and promptly informed about the details and the conditions being accepted.The Platform believes that just as there should be full transparency in the spending of funds from this credit framework, the Government should also have ensured transparency in the negotiation process and in the terms included in the agreement, which the Government approved at its session on May 20, 2025, and signed on May 22 in London.
Politically exposed persons failed to declare company ownerships in conflict of interest declarations – Research by the Center for Civil Communications – The Center for Civil Communications conducted a study analyzing potential conflicts of interest and abuse of power in public procurement involving politically exposed persons. The analysis reveals that through the Register of Beneficial Owners, company ownerships by politically exposed persons (mayors and ministers) were discovered that had not been declared in their interest statements submitted to the State Commission for Prevention of Corruption (SCPC). Out of 360 former and current officials analyzed, 41 were identified as beneficial owners of companies. Of those, 23 officials had either fully or partially concealed their ownership stakes from the SCPC. Companies owned by mayors and former ministers received contracts for public procurement, concessions, and licenses awarded by state institutions.
Most human rights violations last year were related to issuing travel documents and the judiciary – According to the annual report, the highest number of human rights violations last year occurred in the area of civil status, primarily related to the inability to obtain personal documents—specifically travel documents. The judiciary is also identified as a problematic area, with the most violations and complaints filed by citizens. There were also complaints regarding the work of bailiffs. Consumer rights issues were also highlighted as problematic, emphasized the Ombudsman, Naser Ziberi. He reported that over 2,700 complaints were submitted by citizens last year. The Ombudsman handled 3,120 complaints in total, considering that a portion of complaints are carried over from the previous year.
€8.5 Million spent on digitalizing Civil Registry, yet some citizens still receive typewritten certificates – The State Audit Office points out that the digitalization of the civil registry is still not complete, even though it began more than a decade ago and over 520 million denars (approximately €8.5 million) have been invested in it. According to the Audit Office, the lack of a clear strategy, control mechanisms, and qualified human resources is hindering improvements in services for citizens and increasing the risk of misuse of personal data and the loss of archival material of lasting value. Suspicious financial reports and procurement at the Hematology Clinic – The State Audit Office issued an unfavorable opinion regarding the accuracy and objectivity of the financial statements of the Hematology Clinic and a qualified opinion on the compliance of financial transactions with relevant legal regulations for the year 2023. “It was found that received and used medications for rare diseases and donated medications were not recorded in the accounting system. In some of the conducted public procurement procedures, there was improper application of the Public Procurement Law and non-chronological payment of undertaken obligations.” State Audit Office: No Municipality in urban centers meets green space standards – Out of 34 municipalities with urban centers, the general urban plans (GUPs) of 22 municipalities do not meet the recommended green space standard of 25 square meters per capita, according to the latest report by the State Audit Office.
Bribes of around one hundred euros for issuing residency certificates to foreigners in Central Skopje – Several officials from the Department for Foreigners within the Administrative Services of the Ministry of Interior (MoI) are under investigation for abuse of office and issuing documents for regulated residence in North Macedonia to foreign nationals. The illegal “services” were carried out in the offices of the MoI’s Administrative Services, where several police employees have been detained. According to initial information, the suspects issued residency certificates and documents without conducting the legally required background checks, in exchange for bribes of approximately one hundred euros per case. To bypass legal procedures, a scheme was set up for the issuance of fake documents, which were sold for a corresponding fee.
“LIGHT” OCCURRENCES FOR MAY 2025
Judge Enver Bedzeti dismissed – Placed on U.S. Blacklist alongside Artan Grubi over bribery suspicions in case involving Sasho Mijalkov – The Judicial Council has dismissed Appellate Judge Enver Bedzeti. The decision was made during the closed session of the Council. Bedzeti had previously been fined by the Judicial Council for holding the Target-Fortress case for nine months without action. After the judge was placed on the U.S. blacklist last year, the Judicial Council reopened proceedings against him. Although he has the right to appeal the decision, Bedzeti is suspended until the ruling becomes final. Bedzeti was blacklisted by the United States along with former Deputy Prime Minister Artan Grubi, who is currently on the run. Both were named in connection with bribery related to Bedzeti’s decision-making in the case involving Sasho Mijalkov, tied to the massive illegal wiretapping scandal. The case became statute-barred after being delayed too long in Bedzeti’s hands.
Supreme Court accepted secret recording as evidence in conviction of Oncological Clinic pharmacist for bribery involving deceased patient Minka Veizovska – Patient Minka Veizovska, who had lung cancer and was treated at the Oncology Clinic, reported that a pharmacist from the hospital pharmacy demanded money from her in exchange for providing the biological therapy “Keytruda,” which she was entitled to free of charge with a specialist’s report. Veizovska passed away during the court proceedings, but the Public Prosecutor’s Office continued the case ex officio against the pharmaceutical technician, which ended with a final guilty verdict sentencing him to two years in prison for accepting a bribe. Among the evidence used to convict him was a secret recording made by Veizovska herself, covertly recorded on her mobile phone, in which voices can be heard and it is clear that someone is asking for money in exchange for the therapy.
Constitutional Court strikes down Electoral Code provisions raising signature thresholds for independent candidates – The Constitutional Court annulled the articles of the Electoral Code that increased the required number of citizen signatures independent candidates and lists must collect to participate in elections. These amendments to the Electoral Code, including the contested provisions, were adopted in March last year ahead of the presidential and parliamentary elections and were also set to apply to this year’s local elections. The reporting judge in this case expressed concerns from a constitutional perspective, stating that these amendments violated fundamental constitutional values such as legal certainty and predictability, the principle of the rule of law, and raised suspicions of undermining political pluralism.
Criminal charges filed against Director and Department Head at M-NAV for damaging company budget by nearly 1.5 million denars – The Financial Police Directorate submitted criminal charges to the Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office in Skopje against a suspect who served as the former Executive Director of the Aviation Technical Sector at the joint-stock company in state ownership providing air navigation services, M-NAV AD Skopje. The charges are based on suspicion of committing the criminal offense of Abuse of Official Position and Authority under Article 353, paragraph 2 of the Criminal Code. Additionally, charges were filed against another suspect, who served as the Acting Head of the Public Procurement Department at the same company, on suspicion of the criminal offense of Negligence in Office under Article 353-v, paragraph 2 of the Criminal Code. Both suspects are accused of actions that caused damage to the company’s budget totaling nearly 1.5 million Macedonian denars.
