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 JUNE 2025
€8.5 Million spent, but only half of civil registry data digitized; certificates printed even at 10 pm Audit Office finds corruption – “Despite the fact that the digitization of civil registry books began more than a decade ago and over 520 million denars have been invested, the audit determined that the process is still not complete. Only 52% of records have been scanned, and 49% of the planned activities have been entered into the electronic register,” stated the State Audit Office (SAO). SAO identifies financial weaknesses in the Municipality of Centar – The State Audit Office identified serious weaknesses in the financial operations of the Municipality of Centar for 2023. According to the report, the municipality has uncollected receivables exceeding €4.4 million, without a defined maturity structure or legal mechanisms for collection. Furthermore, numerous irregularities were found in the area of public procurement, violating the principles of competition and transparency as stipulated by the Law on Public Procurement, the report states. SAO: Regional development with no results – public investments stuck in local priorities – The State Audit Office conducted a performance audit on the topic “Effects of Public Investments on Balanced Regional Development,” aiming to determine whether public investments are efficiently and effectively planned and implemented, and whether they contribute to sustainable long-term regional development. The audit revealed the absence of clear criteria for regional projects, allocation of funds through line ministries instead of through the Program for Balanced Regional Development, distribution of funds to municipalities and projects without public calls in a non-transparent manner, and a lack of a system for project evaluation and sustainability. These issues negatively impact the effectiveness of public investments in regional development. SAO: ELEM TURS facing major losses and outdated facilities – The State Audit Office published an analysis of the financial statements and operations of ELEM TURS DOOEL Skopje for 2023, identifying serious financial and management issues. According to the auditors, the company is facing accumulated losses of approximately 1.2 billion denars and debts exceeding 268 million denars. The report emphasizes that outdated accommodation facilities, irrational spending, and inadequate management are severely undermining the company’s stability. Particularly concerning are the lack of insurance for property and assets, as well as the excessive outsourcing services with payments beyond contractual obligations.
Courts lagging behind, 150,000 cases remain unresolved – Courts in Macedonia are falling behind in their work. After the first three months of the year, they failed to resolve both the backlog and newly received cases, leaving nearly 145,000 cases still pending before judges. According to the report from the Judicial Council, out of a total of 34 courts, only the courts in Shtip, Veles, Radovish, and Vinica are up to date with their caseloads. The Council explains that due to the numerous holidays in January, it is common for courts to struggle with their caseloads during the first quarter. However, they emphasize that the main issue lies in the lack of judges and administrative staff.
Annual Report of the Public Prosecutor’s Office: increase in serious murders and traffic offenses – With reduced staffing capacity and an increased workload — this is how public prosecutor’s offices operated during 2024, according to the Annual Report on their work, published by the Public Prosecutor’s Office of the Republic of North Macedonia. According to the report, in 2024, the basic public prosecutor’s offices in the country handled cases involving a total of 37,255 perpetrators of criminal offenses, of which 25,909 were newly reported offenders. The Prosecution notes that a comparison of the data shows a significant increase in the number of newly reported offenders in 2024 compared to 2023 — by approximately 10 percent.
Ohrid: NGOs raise concerns while illegal construction continues – Silence follows warnings from non-governmental organizations about illegal construction at multiple locations in Ohrid. With the upcoming decision of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee—expected in less than a month—on whether the Ohrid Region will be placed on the List of World Heritage in Danger, the NGO Front 21/42 warns that relevant institutions show neither awareness of the value of world heritage nor responsibility toward future generations.
€94 Million embezzled through tax fraud – The Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office for Prosecuting Organized Crime and Corruption is conducting proceedings in the “Krmzov” case against 23 individuals and 15 legal entities, suspected of organized crime, tax fraud, money laundering, and mismanagement. According to initial estimates, the damage amounts to around €90 million, with the illegal activities carried out through fake contracts, VAT manipulation, and real estate transactions.
“LIGHT” OCCURRENCES FOR JUNE 2025
In nine months, Financial Police filed 36 criminal charges and uncovered €30 million in fraud – Over the past period, major cases involving multimillion-euro damages to the state budget have been uncovered, stated Slobodan Ivanovski, Director of the Financial Police, on the occasion of the institution’s 22nd anniversary. The Director announced that financial investigations will be intensified in the coming period, aiming to identify, locate, and freeze assets derived from criminal activity.
Arsovska files criminal charges over 20 illegal constructions in Chair – Skopje Mayor Danela Arsovska has filed a criminal complaint regarding 20 cases of unlawful legalization of illegal constructions in the Municipality of Chair. The complaint was submitted to the Prosecutor’s Office for Organized Crime and Corruption, with Arsovska asserting that Chair Mayor Visar Ganiu and his team must have been aware of the illegal constructions. During a press conference in front of the Prosecutor’s Office—following initial disagreements with building security—Arsovska presented two satellite images of Chair. In the 2017 image, the specific illegal buildings are not visible, while in the image taken six years later, construction activity can be clearly seen. According to the law, only illegal structures built before mid-2011 are eligible for legalization.
Investigation launched into six-story illegal construction in Chair – Acting on a criminal complaint submitted by a group of residents, a state prosecutor from the Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office Skopje conducted investigations and issued a decision to initiate investigative proceedings against one individual for the criminal offense of illegal construction, under Article 244-a of the Criminal Code. According to the Public Prosecutor’s Office of the Republic of North Macedonia, the building began construction in 2024 without the required permits and on state-owned land on “Kemal Sejfulla” Street in Chair. The accused, acting as the manager of a legal entity, is listed as the investor of the project—a residential building with commercial units, planned to be six stories tall (Ground Floor + 6 Floors + Attic) and intended for sale.
State Anti-Corruption Commission to file criminal charges against public utility company over illegal procurement – The State Commission for the Prevention of Corruption (SCPC) has decided to file an initiative for criminal prosecution with the Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office against a public utility company, on suspicion of illegal procurement practices related to handling city landfill fires. As stated by the case reporter Biljana Karakashova Suulev at today’s 19th session, the complaint notes that the price for the same or similar procurement item in 2021 was higher than in 2022. Given that the specifications were identical, the price discrepancy between the two years raises suspicions of corrupt behavior in the 2021 procurement process.
Commission for Protection of Competition: Higher Administrative Court confirms ruling on prohibited agreement between major wholesalers – The Higher Administrative Court has upheld a ruling by the Commission for Protection of Competition (CPC), confirming that two major pharmaceutical wholesalers — AD “Dr. Panovski” and “Pharma Trade” DOOEL Skopje — entered into a prohibited agreement (cartel) during participation in a public procurement procedure for insulin, glucagon, insulin needles, blood sugar test strips, and insulin pumps with consumables. The Competition Commission emphasized that in detecting and documenting this cartel, it considered not only domestic legislation but also European Union case law.
Three years and four months in prison for Mavrovo Manager caught taking bribe – Following an indictment by the Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office for Prosecuting Organized Crime and Corruption against S.E., the now-convicted manager fully admitted to the criminal offenses of Accepting a Bribe and Receiving a Reward for Unlawful Influence, as stated in the indictment. The Basic Criminal Court in Skopje issued a conviction based on the guilty plea, sentencing the defendant to three years and four months in prison. Upon the public prosecutor’s request, the court also ordered the confiscation of all monetary assets found during the search — totaling approximately €11,600 — applying the extended confiscation mechanism under Article 98-a of the Criminal Code.
