Skopje, 16 November 2023 (MIA) - The United States Government has sanctioned Sergey Samsonenko, his wife Irina and Ratka Kunoska Kamcheva, and companies "Sistina Lajf Kear Sentar", "Orka Holding", "Bet Siti", "Orka Fajnans" and "Kamcev Konsalting".

"Today, the U.S. government designated individuals and entities connected to the financial network of Jordan 'Orce' Kamcev, who was sanctioned by the United States in July 2023 for corruption. The U.S. Department of the Treasury imposed sanctions today on Sergey Samsonenko, Irina Samsonenko, and Ratka Kunoska for corruption and malign activities in accordance with Executive Orders 14033 and 14024, along with business entities they, or U.S.-designated Orce Kamcev, own or control," says the U.S. Embassy. 

These actions, it adds, illustrate how certain elites benefit from corruption and undermine state institutions at the expense of the citizens of this country.

"The United States will continue to hold corrupt actors accountable, and today’s announcement is a reminder that who you do business with can and will affect you and your family. The people of North Macedonia deserve better," adds the Embassy.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury said Thursday that Sergey Samsonenko (Samsonenko) is a dual citizen of Russia and North Macedonia and a wealthy businessman residing in North Macedonia. Between 2017 and 2018, Samsonenko and his wife, Irina Samsonenko (Irina), also a dual citizen of Russia and North Macedonia, purchased land from SDN Jordan Kamcev (the United States designated Kamcev on July 19, 2023 pursuant to E.O. 14033 for being responsible for or complicit in, or having directly or indirectly engaged in, corruption related to the Western Balkans). This purchase eventually triggered Samsonenko to testify in North Macedonia court during the “Plots on Vodono” trial in which both Kamcev and his mother Ratka Kunoska Kamceva (Kamceva) were indicted for money laundering.

"In 2021, Samsonenko made payments to his wife Irina. In that same timeframe, Irina transferred money to Kamchev Konsalting Skopje DOOEL (Kamchev Konsalting) and Orka Fajnans Skopje DOOEL (Orka Fajnans); both companies are associated with Kamceva. Also, in that same timeframe, the money transferred to Kamchev Konsalting and Orka Fajnans was used to pay a loan associated with Orka Holding AD (Orka Holding), a company associated with Jordan Kamcev. Additionally, Samsonenko and Irina purchased the company Sistina Lajf Kear Sentar Skopje DOOEL (Sistina Lajf Kear Sentar), another entity implicated in the “Plots on Vodono” trial, from Kamcev and Kamceva. Finally, Bet City International DOO Skopje (Bet City), a sports betting shop, is half owned by Samsonenko and half owned by Orka Holding, whose director is SDN Jordan Kamcev," reads the press release.

According to the Department, Samsonenko, Irina, and Kamceva are being designated pursuant to E.O. 14033 for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Jordan Kamcev, a person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to E.O. 14033.

"Sistina Lajf Kear Sentar is being designated pursuant to E.O. 14033 for being owned or controlled by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Irina, a person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to E.O. 14033. Bet City is being designated pursuant to E.O. 14033 for being owned or controlled by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Samsonenko and Kamcev, persons whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to E.O. 14033. Orka Holding AD is a Kamcev-associated conglomerate operating in a wide array of industries. Orka Fajnans and Kamchev Konsalting are consulting and business service companies within the Kamcev network and are owned by Kamceva. Orka Holding is being designated pursuant to E.O. 14033 for being owned or controlled by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Kamcev, a person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to E.O. 14033. Orka Fajnans and Kamchev Konsalting are being designated pursuant to E.O. 14033 for being owned or controlled by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Kamceva, a person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to E.O. 14033," reads the press release.

Back in June, the Department of State designated Struga Mayor Ramiz Merko as generally ineligible for entry into the United States due to his involvement in significant corruption, as were former PM Nikola Gruevski and ex-secret police chief Sasho Mijalkov in 2022. The US has also blacklisted Ljube Boshkoski, Menduh Thaci, Xhevat Ademi, Kastriot Haxhirexha, Nevzat Halili, Gafur Adili, Nuri Bexheti, Xhavit Hasani, Xhezair Shaqiri, Daut Rexhepi and Xhemail Hyseni.

Photo: MIA archive