MVR files criminal charges over procurement abuses at UHMR

The Financial Crime Unit at the Ministry of Interior (MVR) filed a criminal complaint on 16 October 2026 at 12:27 with the Basic Public Prosecutor's Office — Skopje against nine natural persons and one legal entity over suspected procurement abuses at the Hydrometeorological Service (UHMR).

Authorities say eight of the accused are UHMR employees, including a former acting director identified only by the initials I.T. (53), and that a manager of a company from Bitola is also among those charged. A separate legal entity from Skopje was reported for allegedly falsifying documents. The suspects are accused of abuse of official position and authority.

Decisions in 2023 and the sums involved

According to the complaint, in 2023 the then acting director I.T. made two procurement decisions linked to the same event despite being aware of procedural irregularities. Investigators allege the procedures were carried out contrary to established rules and criteria and that the winning offers did not meet required conditions.

Police state that, with the first procurement, a company from Skopje was enabled to obtain an unlawful pecuniary benefit of 29,244,786 denars (approximately €475,000). The second procurement, for printing promotional materials and small inventory, allegedly granted a company from Bitola 782,050 denars (about €12,715).

Investigators further say members of the evaluation commission accepted late and technically deficient documentation without appropriate minutes and reports, and that some employees approved payment of invoices which contained false financial data, fabricated coefficients and lacked supporting evidence. The total unlawful pecuniary benefit to the two companies is cited as 30,026,836 denars (approximately €488,000).

The criminal complaint has been submitted to the competent prosecutor’s office for further action and possible prosecution.

Photo: press material from the event