FLASH
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In the early hours of this morning, February 23, at exactly 06:10, former First Deputy Prime Minister Artan Grubi appeared at the Bllacë border crossing, who was immediately detained by the authorities and taken into custody for further procedures.
This news has been confirmed by Alsat television.
According to official information, his detention comes as part of a broader investigation into allegations of abuse of official position, corruption and violations of the public procurement law. The case concerns the functioning and contracts concluded by the State Lottery of North Macedonia, where decisions are suspected of having caused serious financial consequences.
The RMV authorities claim that certain economic entities have been favored through contested procurement procedures, damaging the institution's budget. According to initial estimates, the damage caused amounts to around 500 million denars, which is worth over 8 million euros. The investigations have focused on several specific contracts and decisions, for which there are suspicions that legal standards and principles of transparency have not been respected.
Previously, the competent court had ordered Grubi to be remanded in custody, while he was declared wanted for failing to appear before the justice authorities.
Today's arrest is expected to pave the way for further procedural developments, while authorities have warned that the investigation will continue until the case is fully clarified and the responsibilities of each person involved in the affair are determined.
International arrest warrant for Grubi in December 2024
The Ministry of Internal Affairs issued an international arrest warrant for former Deputy Prime Minister Artan Grubi and former director of the "State Lottery", Përparim Bajrami in December 2024. The Ministry of Internal Affairs' publication emphasized that the persons were under investigation for committing criminal offenses.
Meanwhile, the Criminal Court accepted the proposal of the Basic Prosecution Office, ordering 30 days of detention for former Deputy Prime Minister Artan Grubi and former director of the "State Lottery", Bajrami.
Meanwhile, for 4 other people involved in the investigation into the "State Lottery", the Criminal Court decided to impose security measures, namely the seizure of passports. The damage caused to the "State Lottery", according to the Prosecution, was over 500 million Denars or about 8.2 million Euros.
Escape from North Macedonia
After the international arrest warrant was issued for Grubi, the latter did not immediately face justice, but fled the country. Even senior exponents of his party (DUI) declared in local media that the fact that he did not surrender, but fled, shows that he is guilty. In February 2025, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Environment Izet Mexhiti told TV24 that he did not know exactly where Grubi was, but added that “his flight from the RMV proves that he is guilty”. Mexhiti stated that Grubi fled on his own, without the help of the government.
"Ahmet confirmed that Grubi is in Albania, but I have no concrete information. According to my information, the government has not released him, but he has people in the Ministry of Internal Affairs who are currently under criminal prosecution. He used the last moments to escape and declared that he would return, but he did not and thereby proved that he is guilty , " Mexhiti had declared.
And just today, Artan Grubi surrendered to the authorities at the Bllaca border crossing.
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