Skopje, 4 December 2023 (MIA) - The planner and executor of the murder of 14-year-old Vanja Gjorchevska from Skopje and 74-year-old Panche Zhezhovski from Veles is Ljupcho Palevski-Palcho, who has fled the country, said Minister of Interior Oliver Spasovski and public prosecutor Gavril Bubevski on Monday without specifying his name but answering questions that mentioned his name as the primary suspect in the murders.

Minister Spasovski told a press conference that the suspect (Palevski) has fled the country accompanied by his lawyer, first to Belgrade and then to Bulgaria.

"The planner and the one who pulled the trigger on November 27 at about 10 am is the person who fled the country immediately after committing the crime and fearing the pending police investigation. I can promise you that this person, or rather monster, will face justice as soon as he sets foot in the country," said Spasovski and added that an international arrest warrant would be issued.

Prosecutor Bubevski said Zhezhovski was killed because he had owed EUR 500 to one of the suspects and whose vehicle was used to abduct Vanja.

"Three of the five suspects have confessed their actions and specific tasks during the perpetration of the crime. They committed two crimes: abduction for the purpose of monetary benefit, and murder," said prosecutor Bubevski.

The other two are the primary suspect (Palevski) and Vanja's father Aleksandar, who has denied involvement in the case. However, the other suspects have said in their testimonies they received information about the whereabouts of his daughter from him.

Palevski is a former building contractor and founder of political party Desna, which premises have been searched. All suspects were members of the party.