Financial Crime World

Corruption Crackdown: Macedonian Authorities Take Steps to Combat Graft

Skopje, North Macedonia - The government of North Macedonia has launched a series of initiatives aimed at curbing corruption and increasing cooperation between the private sector and state prosecution services.

Strengthening Cooperation with Private Sector

According to Article 58 of the Law on Prevention of Corruption, all employees in financial institutions are required to proactively report suspicious transactions related to corruption. Additionally, Article 112 of the Law on Banks mandates that financial institutions cannot deny MLA requests based on the existence or absence of a treaty.

Efficient Execution of MLA Requests

The Ministry of Justice - Department for International Legal Assistance is responsible for receiving MLA (Mutual Legal Assistance) requests and executing them, or transmitting them to the competent authorities for execution.

Extradition of Corruption Offenders

In a significant development, the government has taken steps to increase extradition of corruption offenders. According to Article 43 of the Law on International Cooperation in Criminal Matters, extradition is possible if the conditions related to dual criminality are satisfied.

Bilateral Agreements and Transfer of Sentenced Persons

The government has signed several bilateral agreements with neighboring countries, including:

  • Albania
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Montenegro
  • Serbia
  • Slovenia
  • Turkey

These agreements aim to facilitate the transfer of sentenced persons and taking over of criminal proceedings.

Prevention of Extradition on Political Grounds

In a major victory in the fight against corruption, the authorities have introduced measures to prevent the extradition of citizens based on political grounds. According to Article 118 of the Constitution, the principle “aut dedere aut judicare” is not regulated by statutory law and has never been applied.

Praise from Anti-Graft Watchdogs

The government’s efforts to combat corruption have been praised by anti-graft watchdogs, who say that the measures taken are a significant step towards reducing graft in the country.