Skopje, 23 September 2025 (MIA) — Speaking to the press following a conference on systemic corruption held Tuesday, Directorate for the Execution of Sanctions head Aleksandar Pandov said corruption in the state's prisons had decreased since his appointment to the post although it had not been eliminated yet.

"I believe that systemic corruption has been reduced to a large extent this year," Pandov said. "Has it been destroyed? No. But I believe that, year in, year out, the numbers, and those criteria that measure us... I believe Macedonia will only make progress." 

He said ever since he had been appointed Directorate for the Execution of Sanctions acting director, he had been meeting with prosecutors and judges, confirming there was corruption in the judiciary.

"From what I have seen in prisons this year, I can say there has been literally systemic corruption there," Pandov said.

"This year, I have had the opportunity to meet with a large number of prosecutors and judges. True, there is corruption there.

"However, it is also true there is a large percentage of people who love what they do and don't want us to have this level of corruption. One single institution cannot destroy systemic corruption," he said.

Pandov also said it was crushing how many inmates had cellphones. "The numbers of inmates who have cellphones are a crushing blow to me," he said.

"As acting director of the Directorate for the Execution of Sanctions, I can do audits but the fight against corruption inside prisons is up to the prison management," he added.

According to Pandov, there are prisons that do not allow inmates to have cellphones but there are also prisons where "only those who don't want to have a cellphone don't have a cellphone." mr/