The University of Tetovo has officially terminated the employment of Artan Grubi, who served as a lecturer in the Department of Journalism within the Faculty of Law. The decision follows Grubi’s unexplained absence from work and his recent flight from North Macedonia amidst mounting legal troubles.
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Employment Terminated Due to Unexcused Absence
Dean of the Faculty of Law, Safet Emruli, confirmed the decision in a statement to the State News Agency MIA. He explained that Grubi’s dismissal was due to his failure to report to work, in violation of labor laws. “The decision has been officially communicated to him both by post and electronically,” Emruli stated.
Under Macedonian law, employees can be dismissed if they fail to report to work for three consecutive days or five days within a year without providing justification.
Controversial Background and Legal Troubles
Grubi, who previously served as Deputy Prime Minister in the coalition government of the Social Democratic Union and the Democratic Union for Integration (DUI), fled the country three weeks ago. His departure came as authorities prepared to initiate legal proceedings against him on bribery charges.
On December 18, authorities in Skopje issued an international arrest warrant for Grubi, along with former State Lottery Director Përparim Bajrami. Prosecutors allege the pair caused damages amounting to €8.2 million in a fraud scheme linked to the State Lottery.
Grubi and Bajrami’s current whereabouts remain unknown. Investigations and criminal proceedings against them were prompted by a December 9 announcement from the U.S. Department of State, which designated Grubi and Court of Appeals member Enver Bexheti as persona non grata due to their involvement in corrupt activities. The Department’s statement accused Grubi and Bexheti of accepting bribes to undermine judicial processes related to the sentencing of former Security and Counterintelligence Administration Director Sasha Mijalkov.
Political and Public Reactions
The Faculty’s decision to terminate Grubi’s employment has been welcomed by the Albanian coalition parties in government, known as “Vlen.” Party representatives stated that Grubi lacked the moral and professional integrity to teach at the University of Tetovo.
Meanwhile, Ali Ahmeti, leader of the DUI and Grubi’s political ally, recently commented on the situation during a visit to Kosovo. He suggested that Grubi “was somewhere within Albanian territories” and expressed confidence that Grubi was prepared to cooperate with justice. “Artan Grubi is ready to respond to legal authorities and respect the law, but not selective or retaliatory justice,” Ahmeti said in late 2024.
Ahmeti’s remarks sparked criticism in Skopje, with some political parties demanding that he provide testimony regarding Grubi’s whereabouts. As the investigation unfolds, Grubi’s fate remains a subject of intense public and political scrutiny, further underscoring the challenges facing North Macedonia in tackling high-level corruption.