Skopje, 23 June 2023 (MIA) – Eight thousand kilometers aren’t necessary for someone to uncover these findings. The findings were made four years ago, we didn’t need to wait for someone from abroad to tell us about the findings. On the contrary, the authorities should’ve acted upon our findings, upon the findings of the State Audit Office, because this is the only way to strengthen the control system, the system of integrity of the institutions and the trust of the citizens, said the President of the State Commission for the Prevention of Corruption (SCPC) on Friday, regarding the case against Struga Mayor Merko.

At a press conference Friday, Ivanovska detailed the Commission’s procedure over the case, since the opening of the case in May 2019, until today, concluding that “obviously there are obstacles that prevent the institutions from operating as they should.”

“There are attempts to influence in every possible way, in every pore. These are the reasons, I don’t see any others. And it becomes evident that this is how things will operate if we add to this the lack of integrity among certain individuals inappropriately appointed to certain positions who owe the people who placed them there. This is not the only case or recommendation submitted by the SCPC to the Prosecutor’s Office. We have sent countless initiatives to the Government, but no action has been taken when it comes to dismissals or responsibility,” said Ivanovska.

According to Ivanovska, all cases based on findings from the SCPC and the State Audit Office, as independent institutions, should be fast-tracked in the Public Prosecutor’s Office, since they are supported with documents and a large part of the investigation has already been completed.

“We want to remind that the SCPC, upon its own initiatives, and based on media reports, opened a case on Struga Mayor Merko in May 2019. Consequently, we determined that he intentionally abused his official position and powers to take actions contrary to the public interest and the interest of the Municipality, thereby harming the Budget of the Municipality of Struga and the Budget of the state. Based on the findings, the SCPC submitted an Initiative for criminal charges against Merko to the Public Prosecutor’s Office on November 19, 2019,” said Ivanovska.

In parallel with the case on Merko, added Ivanovska, on November 18, 2019, the SCPC submitted a report to the Judicial Council over the work of the President of Basic Court Struga due to suspicions of political influence on the judge who decided on requests by the Municipality of Struga to raise the minimum funds necessary for the basic operations of the Municipality.

After the responses received from the competent institutions, the SCPC ended its procedure over the case.

“Realistically, we have done everything that we are able to do, we have submitted initiatives and recommendations. There is no legal mechanism determining how we should act in this case, which is why we are announcing this to the public,” said Ivanovska.

The head of the SCPCP pointed to several cases of inaction by the Government after it had received reports from the SCPC, and reminded of the European Commission’s recommendations that the country must strengthen its commitments to the fight against corruption. 

Photo: MIA