Skopje, 5 December 2023 (MIA) - Ljupcho Palevski-Palcho, the prime suspect in the murder of Vanja Gjorchevska and Panche Zhezhovski, has been arrested in Turkey, said Minister of Interior Oliver Spasovski late on Tuesday.

"We have just received a report from our Turkish counterparts that the creator, planner, coordinator and executor has been caught and arrested in Turkey, identical to our operational information regarding the trajectory of the suspect's movement," said Minister Spasovski.

The arrest comes after the Ministry of Interior issued yesterday an international arrest warrant.

The Skopje Basic Prosecutor's Office has also requested a 48-hour detention of a 46-year-old Skopje citizen, who is suspected of helping Palevski escape to Turkey via Bulgaria and Serbia. 

Vanja Gjorchevska, 14, was found dead near Skopje on December 3 after she was reported missing on November 27, and Panche Zhezhovski, 74, was found dead near Veles on December 3 after he was reported missing on November 24.

The court ordered on Monday 48-hour detention for suspects Velibor Manev, Vlatko Keshishov and Bore Videvski, who are members of the political party Desna whose founder is the prime suspect Palevski-Palcho.

The four suspects were brought to the Skopje Criminal Court on Tuesday evening before a judge who will rule on the prosecution's proposal to further extend their detention.

The Skopje-based Criminal Court also ordered late Monday a 48-hour detention for Vanja Gjorchevska's father, Aleksandar Gjorchevski, who is one of the suspects in her murder. According to the court, the detention is ordered due to risk of absconding and interfering with witnesses.

Photo: MIA