The U.S. Department of State has added Artan Grubi, former Deputy Prime Minister of North Macedonia and a high-ranking member of the Democratic Union for Integration (BDI), and Enver Bexheti, a judge at the Court of Appeals in North Macedonia, to its blacklist. This decision raises serious questions about corruption and abuse of power in North Macedonia, particularly within institutions meant to uphold justice and governance.
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| Artan Grubi sitting in the seat of the Parliament of North Macedonia |
Artan Grubi, a prominent ethnic Albanian politician in North Macedonia, was elected to Parliament in 2016 as a representative of BDI. Over the years, his political career has been marred by allegations of dubious alliances and involvement in controversial decisions.
Potential Reasons for Blacklisting
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Ties with Nikola Gruevski
Grubi’s party, BDI, collaborated closely with Nikola Gruevski, the former Prime Minister from VMRO-DPMNE, for a decade. Gruevski fled North Macedonia to escape justice, reportedly with logistical and political assistance from BDI. The party is also accused of pushing legal frameworks to facilitate his amnesty and potential return. -
Collaboration with Sasho Mijallkov
Sasho Mijallkov, the former chief of secret services, maintained a relationship with BDI and allegedly benefited from their influence. Meetings with Grubi were reportedly frequent, and BDI played a role in delaying or dismissing legal cases against him. Furthermore, a BDI official at the Agency for Confiscated Assets allegedly helped Mijallkov recover confiscated property through dubious channels. -
Involvement with Controversial Figures
- Miodrag “Daka” Davidović, a close associate of former Tetovo Mayor Teuta Arifi, has a history tied to arms trading and connections with war criminal Radovan Karadžić. His dealings have raised significant ethical concerns.
- Koço Angjushev, a former Deputy Prime Minister and partner in the BDI-led coalition, owns a company implicated in the poor construction of modular hospitals. One such hospital fire in Tetovo claimed 14 lives, with no accountability for political leaders involved.
Enver Bexheti: A Judge under Scrutiny
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| Sašo Mijalkov |
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| Enver Bexheti |
Broader Implications and Hypocrisy
The BDI often presents itself as a pro-American, pro-European party, advocating for integration with Western institutions. However, its long-standing alliances with individuals accused of corruption and criminal activities paint a starkly different picture. The blacklisting of Grubi and Bexheti underscores the growing international recognition of these contradictions.
The list of individuals under scrutiny may expand, signaling heightened U.S. attention on the region’s governance and anti-corruption efforts. This serves as a wake-up call for North Macedonia to prioritize genuine reforms and distance itself from political and judicial practices that undermine its Euro-Atlantic aspirations.