Regarding the US blacklisting of ex-Deputy PM Artan Grubi and Skopje Court of Appeals Judge Enver Bexheti, Justice Minister Igor Filkov said on Wednesday that he was grateful for the assistance from partners in processes. However, he added that some things would have to be done all the way domestically, “on our own”.
“Let’s see what will be happening in the period ahead, let’s not jump to conclusions”, the Minister underlined, after he’d been asked why there were no corruption investigations by North Macedonia’s institutions against Grubi and Bexheti.
Asked why institutions couldn’t find and prosecute for corruption people who were on the blacklist, Filkov’s stand is that alignments are necessary.
“I wouldn’t say they cannot. That means we have a lot in front of us when it comes to alignment. So, let’s wait and see what happens”, the Minister pointed out.
When it comes to the Judicial Council Law changes, he said the fourth and last debate would be held next week.
“After that, we will sum things up and the Ministry will present a concrete proposal”, Filkov underlined.
Regarding the Criminal Code changes that, as he said in the summer, will be made, the Minister expects the process will have been carried out by the end of the year.
“I hope we will have completed them by New Year’s, after which we will hold a press-conference and present them”, he noted, not revealing what the changes would contain.
The process aims to prevent the negative consequences of last year’s changes that resulted precisely in the statute of limitations expiring in cases related to the Grubi and Bexheti designation, Kanal 5 reported. Also on Wednesday, Chief Public Prosecutor Public Kocevski said it would be investigated who had given the bribe, who had received it, and whether there had been influence peddling.
“We have excellent cooperation with our strategic partners from the US”, he noted, adding that in the frames of the Office, proceedings were already underway on almost everybody that is on the blacklist, including the Mayors of Struga and Karpos, Ramiz Merko and Stevco Jakimovski, respectively.
The Judicial Council, which will, based on the preliminary results of Wednesday’s vote, have two new members, Skopje Court of Appeals Judge Ariton Alla and Stip Court of Appeals Judge Danka Ristova, reacted to the Grubi and Bexheti blacklisting, saying it was taking measures according to its competences laid down in the law.
“We’re committed to dealing with every form of corruption in the judicial system”, the institution added. There were other reactions as well.
“The blacklisting is an embarrassment for the judiciary and country”, VLEN’s Orhan Murtezani noted. VMRO-DPMNE again said the designations clearly showed the reasons for the “drama” outside the Constitutional Court over the Law on Languages. “It also shows why we’ve constantly called on courts and Prosecutor’s Office to do the job they are paid to do,” it added.