Skopje, 19 February 2024 (MIA) — The updates to the Law on Restrictive Measures have shown who is committed to fighting against corruption while also revealing those who are willing to defend criminals rather than the public interest, even at the cost of their own dignity, Deputy Prime Minister of Good Governance Slavica Grkovska said in an interview with Sloboden Pechat on Monday.

Deputy PM Grkovska said that, contrary to rumors, the move to amend the law was not related to specific persons, but to address "the strange ease of irresponsibility and negligence of our prosecutorial and judicial authorities even though levied sanctions are based on evidence provided by our institutions."

She added that the amendments to the law would make it possible for North Macedonia's authorities to prosecute any person or company the US Department State adds to their list of entities designated for corruption.

"If you have a strategic partnership with the United States, and if this partnership also includes the fight against corruption and crime, then it is unacceptable to ignore the efforts of our partners and put them in a situation where they themselves need to submit requests [for prosecution] to our authorities," Grkovska said, adding that the US had always unwaveringly supported the country and helped achieve strategic goals. mr/