The United States imposes sanctions on a North Macedonian businessman for alleged corruption offenses

Washington points out that these events “threaten the stability of the Western Balkans.”

Madrid, July 20 (European Press) –

The US government imposed sanctions on a North Macedonian businessman for alleged corruption offenses, including bribery of a government official.

The US Treasury announced that the sanction is directed against Jordan’s Orsi Kamjev, in order to demonstrate “the United States’ continued commitment to promoting the responsibility of individuals and entities that undermine or threaten the stability of the Western Balkans through corruption and other destabilizing behavior.”

Undersecretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian Nelson explained that Kamsev “abuses office, engages in corrupt activities and pursues a self-serving agenda at the expense of North Macedonia’s democratic institutions and citizens”.

According to a statement issued by the Treasury Department, the aforementioned businessman has committed crimes of abuse of power, money laundering, among other things, for more than a decade. In addition, he has been convicted in one case of illegal land purchase and pleaded guilty in another case to charges of conspiracy, fraud, money laundering and other crimes related to his business.

In 2020, the prosecutor of the country’s special prosecutor’s office was accused of accepting a bribe from Kamsev, who paid money for favorable conditions of detention and the outcome of the case. After that, the businessman denounced the prosecutor for allegedly extorting money, although the court ruled that Kamsev was not a victim.

After this scandal, the Special Prosecutor’s Office collapsed, so high-profile corruption cases are still stalled, delaying the accountability of many of those investigated.

The Foreign Ministry stressed that the businessman’s actions “undermined public confidence and undermined the integrity of the judicial sector and the rule of law” in the country, while “promoting” his “personal interest”.

State Department spokesman Matthew Miller called on the North Macedonian authorities to continue strengthening the rule of law and its democratic institutions and cracking down on corruption.

Miller stressed that “these efforts are necessary for the full integration of North Macedonia into European institutions,” referring to the Balkan country’s candidacy to join the European Union, which applied for membership in 2004.