Skopje, 23 February 2024 (MIA) – The Skopje-based Appellate Court has rejected as unfounded an appeal against the detention order for Aleksandar Gjorchevski, the father of murdered 14-year-old Vanja Gjorchevska. 

Following a public session held on February 22, 2024, the Appellate Court passed a decision by which the appeal from the suspect A.Gj. from Skopje, presented through his defense, is rejected as unfounded. The Appellate Court upholds the decision of the Skopje-based Criminal Court extending the detention order for another 30 days, the court said on Friday.

At yesterday's public session in connection with the appeal, held at the Appellate Court, Gjorchevski's defense, through defense attorney Vladimir Tufegdzhikj, requested that the detention be cancelled, because, according to the defense, not a single piece of evidence has been presented over the suspicion of criminal act, nor has the defense been given insight into the case.

The prosecution at this stage is represented by prosecutor Fatime Fetai, who requested yesterday that Gjorchevski remains in detention, due to risk of absconding, after being charged with accessory to abduction, as well as interfering with witnesses.  

Four other suspects are in detention over the abduction and murders of Vanja Gjorchevska and Panche Zhezhovski, whereas the prime suspect Ljupcho Palevski is placed under extradition detention in Turkey after he was arrested in Balikesir on December 5 upon an international arrest warrant.

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

Photo: MIA archive