The U.S. Ambassador to Skopje, Angela Aggeler, announced the expansion of the blacklist with other individuals suspected of corruption in North Macedonia.

On December 5, the U.S. State Department blacklisted former Deputy Prime Minister of North Macedonia, Koço Angjushev, and before him, several other high-profile politicians and businessmen, such as the mayor of Struga, Ramiz Merko, and controversial businessman Orce Kamchev.

Speaking to reporters in Skopje, Aggeler said that Angjushev’s inclusion on the blacklist followed “numerous pieces of evidence” of his involvement in corruption.

She did not provide details or names of individuals who might be added to the U.S. blacklist but added that Angjushev would not be the only name on the list.

“I can promise you that there are other people whose cases are being processed in Washington. I do not want to speculate on when they will be announced, but I promise you that this was not the last name,” said Aggeler.

She emphasized that expediting their inclusion on the blacklist requires time because “it is a complex and painstaking process that requires complete assurance that certain individuals are indeed part of corrupt activities”.

Such steps, according to Aggeler, are a way for Washington to help in the fight against corruption.

“There is an epidemic of corruption in this country that has affected every sector, every organization, and only by exposing the corrupt actors can we begin to help the country address these issues,” she stressed.

Ambassador Aggeler also expressed her frustration with the lack of results in the fight against corruption in North Macedonia.

“In the last 32 years, or since the country’s independence, the United States has invested almost half a billion dollars in good governance and rule of law, but so far, the expected results have not been achieved,” Aggeler added.