WASHINGTON, United States: The United States announced on Monday that it would not grant visas to North Macedonian politicians seeking the presidency over corruption concerns.
The State Department blacklisted three current and former officials from North Macedonia and Kosovo, using anti-corruption laws that bar them from entering the United States, saying the United States was determined to support the rule of law and strengthening democratic institutions across the Balkans.
The State Department in a statement said that the US is barring the entry of the mayor of Karpos, Stevco Jakimovski, for “using his official position to interfere with urban development and procurement processes to benefit himself and his deputies. Karpos is a municipality of the North Macedonian capital Skopje.
Formerly a member of a center-left party, Jakimovski, has applied to run in the April 24 election with his small party, GROM. He is not considered a top candidate.
The State Department also announced that it would deny visas for akimovski’s two adult sons.
