The State Department announced today the designation of three officials from the Western Balkans region for their involvement in “significant” corruption. The designated individuals are Katica Janeva, former Special Chief Prosecutor of North Macedonia; Stevco Jakimovski, current mayor of Karpos, North Macedonia; and Xhabir Zharku, former mayor of Kacanik, Kosovo. These designations were made under Section 7031(c) of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2023, as carried forward by the Continuing Appropriations Act.
- Katica Janeva: Former North Macedonia Special Chief Prosecutor. According to the State Department, she abused her political influence and official power for personal gain, engaging in corrupt acts including soliciting and accepting bribes to influence prosecutions under her jurisdiction.
- Stevco Jakimovski: Mayor of Karpos municipality, North Macedonia. According to the State Department, Jakimovski was involved in corrupt activities, leveraging his official position to interfere with urban development and procurement processes for personal benefit and that of his associates.
- Xhabir Zharku: Former mayor of Kacanik municipality, Kosovo. Zharku abused his position to unlawfully permit construction on municipal property, benefiting himself and his associates through corrupt procurement practices.
Exclusive Interview: Milorad Dodik Says Biden Allies Want to Remove Him ‘Before I Can Speak to Trump’
While all eyes are on Trump trying to broker peace between Putin and Zelenskyy, an unelected bureaucracy is moving against a sitting president in Bosnia and Herzegovina. President Milorad Dodik of Republika Srpska — one of Donald Trump’s earliest staunch supporters and a fixture in Balkan politics for decades was in his office when the news…
Keep reading
EXCLUSIVE: U.S. Calls for Restraint Following Removal of President Dodik in Bosnia and Herzegovina
“The United States remains committed to BiH’s stability, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, and calls on all sides to avoid any action to further escalate the situation,” a U.S. State Department spokesperson told The Pavlovic Today in an exclusive statement on Thursday, amid growing political tensions surrounding President Milorad Dodik in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The State Department statement…
Keep reading
Confirmed: Serbian Oil Giant NIS Hit With Sanctions In Biden’s Latest Crackdown In Russia’s Energy Sector
With just ten days left until President-elect Trump takes office, President Biden has imposed today the most significant sanctions to date on Russia’s energy sector, targeting key players in the Kremlin’s oil revenues. The eleventh-hour move is expected to disrupt funding for Russia’s war efforts. As The Pavlovic Today previously reported, speculation surrounding the inclusion…
Keep reading