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 AUGUST 2025
Although the return of harsher penalties for corruption in the Criminal Code was announced before the elections, this did not happen – On February 12, the Constitutional Court, with a majority vote of the then nine judges, decided to initiate proceedings on the constitutionality of the amendments to the Criminal Code, which in 2023 represented an intrusion into the judiciary in order to clear former officials of corruption charges. Before annulling or repealing the amendments, the Constitutional Court first sent a report to the Parliament, stating that there were doubts about the constitutionality of the law. The Court gave the Parliament a deadline to intervene and amend the disputed provisions—specifically, to restore within six months the deleted penalties for corruption, which had led to the expiration of all cases from the former Special Prosecutor’s Office, resulting in the accused being granted amnesty and citizens now having to pay hundreds of thousands of euros in legal fees. If the Government and Parliament failed to do so, the Constitutional Court was expected to prepare a report to annul or repeal those provisions, or the entire law amending the Criminal Code, which was adopted on September 3, 2023. On August 12, 2025, the six-month deadline given by the Constitutional Court to the Parliament to correct the disputed legal provisions amending the Criminal Code expired.
Municipalities Spent €190 Million Last Year; In About Ten Local Governments, One Company Won Half of the Tenders – The latest research conducted by the Center for Civil Communications reveals that the eighty municipalities and the City of Skopje signed a total of 4,006 public procurement contracts in the past year, worth 11.7 billion denars, or approximately 190 million euros. In around ten municipalities, a single company won half or more of the total number of public procurement contracts. The Center points out that there are about ten municipalities where just one company was awarded half of all the municipality’s procurements for 2024. These municipalities include: Želino, Dojran, Vrapčište, Strumica, Butel, Kruševo, Staro Nagoričane, Zelenikovo, Lipkovo, Mogila, Aračinovo, Bosilovo, and Vinica.
Fund for Innovation Financed 48 AI Projects Worth Over €6 Million, None Operational – The State Audit Office conducted a performance audit of information systems on the topic “Opportunities for the Use of Artificial Intelligence in the Public Sector” to assess whether the public sector is prepared to use artificial intelligence (AI) in its activities. The audit noted numerous shortcomings and insufficient development of AI in the country and within the public sector. It highlighted that none of the 48 state-funded AI projects, with a total value of over €6 million, are currently operational. State Audit Office: Public Enterprise “National Forests” Drowning in Debt – The State Audit Office found that the Public Enterprise “National Forests” is struggling with serious financial difficulties. The enterprise is using loans to pay salaries, while employees have failed to fulfill their contractual duties. According to the latest audit report, the company has accumulated obligations exceeding €17 million and is constantly dependent on revolving short-term loans for salary payments. This situation has resulted in reduced liquidity and increased risks to the sustainability of its operations. State Audit Office: Non-Functional Facilities, Outdated Equipment, and Lost Revenue Potential at “Boris Trajkovski” Sports Center – The State Audit Office also conducted an audit of the Company for Construction, Management, and Leasing of the Multipurpose Hall “Boris Trajkovski” for the year 2023. The findings included non-functional facilities and equipment, a closed aqua park, uncertainty regarding the future of the solar power system, and missed opportunities for generating additional revenue.
So Far, 577 Institutions Have Reported Their Vehicles to the Anti-Corruption Commission, Over 900 Still Haven’t – According to data received by the State Commission for the Prevention of Corruption (SCPC) from the Central Registry, there are 1,511 legal entities that manage state-owned capital—this includes ministries, municipalities, agencies, directorates, funds, and other institutions established by the state. An additional 142 state institutions have recently submitted data to the SCPC regarding the official vehicles they possess, bringing the total number of public institutions that have fulfilled this obligation to 577. The deadline for reporting the vehicles was August 20, meaning these 142 institutions submitted their data late. Still, this indicates that over 900 institutions have yet to submit any data, meaning only about one-third have fulfilled their legal obligation.
Individual Held Two Incompatible Positions in Bitola, Paid Fine but Refused to Step Down from Either – The Anti-Corruption Commission took action on a case it initiated ex officio concerning an individual who was holding two incompatible public functions. As stated during a session, the individual was simultaneously a member of the Management Board of one public enterprise and a member of the Supervisory Board of another public enterprise, both based in Bitola. Holding both positions at the same time is in violation of Article 44 of the Law on Prevention of Corruption, and constitutes a misdemeanor punishable under Article 105 of the same law. The individual was issued a misdemeanor payment order and was instructed to resign from one of the two functions. While the fine was paid, the person failed to submit proof of resignation from either of the positions, according to the Commission.
“LIGHT” OCCURRENCES FOR AUGUST 2025
Criminal Charges Against Two Former Directors of Macedonian Post for Misuse of Over €32,000 – The Skopje Police Department (SVR Skopje) has filed criminal charges against two former General Directors of the Joint Stock Company “Post of North Macedonia”, on reasonable suspicion of having committed the criminal offense of “negligent performance of duty”, in accordance with Article 353, paragraph 1 of the Criminal Code. According to findings from the investigation, the accused failed to exercise proper oversight over the work of their subordinate managers during 2023, thereby enabling procurements in violation of the Law on Public Procurement. Instead of adhering to the legally allowed procurement limit of €24,000, purchases were carried out totaling €56,546, thus exceeding the legal threshold by €32,546.
Charges Filed Against Eight People, Six Are Police Officers – Took Bribes to Enable Illegal Stay of Foreign Nationals – The State Public Prosecutor’s Office, through the Specialized Department for Prosecution of Criminal Offenses Committed by Persons with Police Powers and Members of the Prison Police, has filed an indictment against eight individuals, six of whom are police officers. The indictment refers to serious abuses of official position, illegal mediation, and receiving bribes in order to facilitate unlawful stay and obtain temporary residence permits for foreign nationals.
Senior Police Officer Indicted for Bribing a Colleague at Dolno Blace Border Crossing – The Department for Internal Control, Criminal Investigations and Professional Standards within the Ministry of Interior (MoI) has filed a criminal complaint to the Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office for Prosecution of Organized Crime and Corruption in Skopje against a senior police officer from the Intervention Police Unit of the Skopje Police Department (SVR Skopje). He is suspected of committing the criminal offense of “giving a bribe”, in accordance with Article 358, paragraph 1 of the Criminal Code. According to the investigation, during February and March of this year, the accused offered and gave a bribe to another police officer stationed at the Dolno Blace border crossing, in order for him not to perform his official duty. As a result, the entry record of a Macedonian citizen was falsely recorded as the entry of a Turkish citizen.
