The mayor of Struga has his passport confiscated

The Basic Court in Struga, at the request of the Public Prosecutor's Office, confiscated the passport of the mayor of Struga Municipality, Ramiz Merko, in order to prevent his "escape".

Merko, who is facing several active court proceedings, is now required to appear in court once a week.

The competent public prosecutor of Struga accuses Merko that in March of this year, "he placed a commemorative sign - plaque at the entrance of the municipality building, with which he incited hatred and ethnic division among the residents of Struga, committing the criminal offense under Article 27 of the Law on Memorials and Monuments", the Prosecutor's Office announced on December 28.

According to the Prosecutor's Office, Merko, who has held public functions for a long time, is part of several legal procedures opened this year by the Struga Public Prosecutor's Office.

Through a statement, the Prosecutor's Office explained that so far several charges have been filed against him, while eight court proceedings are underway for criminal offenses such as misuse of official position and authority as well as for irresponsible work in office. Each of these offenses is punishable by imprisonment.

Based on this situation, the competent prosecutor has assessed that there is a real risk that Merko "will try to avoid prosecution".

Ramiz Merko, who comes from the ranks of the Democratic Union for Integration (BDI) in the opposition, was declared a person "non grata" by the US Department of State (DASH) on June 20, 2023.

Washington at the time announced that Merco was being barred from entering the United States due to his involvement in significant corruption. DASH's statement stated that the mayor of the Municipality of Struga had illegally appropriated funds and interfered in judicial and public proceedings, damaging the citizens' trust in the democratic institutions of North Macedonia.

In addition to Merko and his family, a former DUI official, Artan Grubi, who is being prosecuted and who is suspected of having fled the country, was recently added to the US blacklist. /REL/ (A2 Televizion)