Skopje, 11 December 2024 (MIA) — Thanking the US for helping uncover domestic corruption cases, Minister of Justice Igor Filkov said Wednesday that the competent institutions now needed to "see some things through to the end" on their own.

"I am grateful to our partners for helping us in these processes, but we will have to see some things through to the end ourselves," Minister Filkov said.

"Let's see what happens. Let's not jump to conclusions," he said in response to a reporter's question why the Macedonian competent institutions had not launched corruption probes into former deputy prime minister Artan Grubi and Appellate Court judge Enver Bexheti, whom the US Department of State recently designated for involvement in significant corruption.

Asked about why Macedonian institutions had not independently uncovered and prosecuted the persons on the US 'blacklist,' Filkov said the system needed tweaking.

"I wouldn't say they cannot," Filkov said. "Going forward, we will have a lot of adjustments to make. So let's wait and see what happens."

On the Judicial Council reform, the justice minister said the relevant law amendments were being drafted. After a meeting scheduled next week, he said, the Ministry of Justice would finalize the proposed changes.

On the progress of the changes to the Criminal Code, which he had announced earlier this year — and which would have the criminal statute of limitations in the Grubi and Bexheti's corruption cases expiring — Filkov said the bill would be drafted by the end of 2024.

US Ambassador Angela Aggeler told a news conference Tuesday that Grubi and Bexheti's designation by the U.S. Department of State for involvement in significant corruption made it very clear that the United States can and will use any and all tools to hold accountable individuals whose criminal activities have undermined security, stability and governance values of North Macedonia.

Corruption, it whatever form it takes, should not be tolerated in this country, the US ambassador said.

"Those who undermine rule of law for personal gain and at the expense of the people of North Macedonia, should come to understand that corruption has consequences.

"While the United States will continue to hold corrupt actors accountable, it is my hope that the judiciary and law enforcement structures of this country do the same.

"The citizens of this country deserve no less," she said.

Ambassador Aggeler added that the evidence the decision was based on had not been shared with the Macedonian authorities due to privacy issues. However, she said, the evidence Washington was reviewing was widely available.

According to Monday’s press release from the US State Department, Grubi and Bexheti had accepted bribes to undermine judicial processes tied to the criminal conviction of Sasho Mijalkov, director of North Macedonia’s Administration for Security and Counterintelligence (UBK).

"Mijalkov was designated in 2022 for significant corruption under Section 7031(c), and OFAC sanctioned him pursuant to E.O. 14033. As part of this action, Grubi’s immediate family members are also designated," the release said.

It also said that the US was taking these actions on International Anti-Corruption Day and on the eve of Human Rights Day to promote accountability for perpetrators of corruption and human rights abuse around the world. ba/mr