In an interview with the Lokalno.mk, the Minister of Justice, Igor Filkov, addressed the current situation in the judiciary, the reforms and the challenges he has faced since taking office. Restoring citizens' trust in the judicial system is one of the biggest challenges we face. Speaking about the new names on the US blacklist due to corruption, which also includes a judge, Minister Filkov believes that this is of great importance in the context of efforts to fight corruption and strengthen justice in our country.
"Regarding the new names on the US blacklist, including a judge from the Court of Appeals, this is a serious signal that cannot be ignored. Corruption, especially in the judiciary, is one of the biggest challenges for democratic institutions and the rule of law.
Regarding the question of whether the practice of our Western partners, pointing out individuals involved in corruption and here, in our country, any action not being taken will continue, I must emphasize that it is very important to have independent and efficient institutions that will investigate and prosecute these cases. There will be no progress in the fight against corruption if there is no will on the part of domestic institutions to take concrete measures and sanction those who violate the law. At the same time, we should recognize that international partners play an important role in supporting our efforts and use their position to highlight where the problems lie.
It is our responsibility to build strong mechanisms for the judiciary and to ensure that no one, regardless of their position or status, is exempt from accountability. If someone is pointed out as corrupt, then the proceedings should be conducted with full transparency and fairness, regardless of whether they are high-ranking judges or other public officials.
Our international partners can provide important information and help us uncover corrupt activities, but ultimately, it is up to us to take the necessary measures and ensure that justice is done,” Filkov said.
Regarding the reforms in the Judicial Council, Minister Filkov said that after the public debates on the Judicial Council are over, the next step is to consider all the comments and suggestions that were made by the participants in the hearing, including experts, civil society organizations, and the public.
“Review of suggestions and preparation of a final proposal: in the next phase, all comments and suggestions that were made during the public debates will be analyzed by the Ministry of Justice and expert bodies. Based on this, a final proposal will be prepared that will include possible changes or additions to the proposed reforms for the Judicial Council. This process will take place in consultation with lawyers and experts on judicial reforms, to ensure that all legal and ethical standards are met,” Filkov emphasized.
In the interview with Lokalno.mk, Minister Filkov also talks about the functionality of the Ministry of Justice, how to restore trust in the judiciary, the new Criminal Code, the condition in prisons and other issues.
You can watch the entire interview with the Minister of Justice, Igor Filkov, at the following link:
