Skopje, 6 December 2023 (MIA) - Lawyer Vasko Stojkov, who drove Ljupcho Palevski, the prime suspect in the murder of Vanja Gjorchevska and Panche Zhezhovski, to Belgrade, has been summoned for questioning, the police told MIA late on Wednesday.

Stojkov told media a couple of days ago that Palevski had told him he had to go to Belgrade for a medical checkup but denied knowing he is a murder suspect.

Palevski was arrested in Turkey on Tuesday upon an Interpol arrest warrant. Justice Minister Krenar Lloga has signed the extradition request, which is to be forwarded to the Turkish counterpart institution once it is translated.

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.

Palevski, founder of political party Desna, has been charged with abduction and murder, party members Velibor Manev, Vlatko Keshishov and Bore Videvski have been charged with abduction and accessory to murder, whereas Vanja's father Aleksandar Gjorchevski, who is suspected of sharing information with them over his daughter's morning routine, has been charged with accessory to abduction.

Photo: MIA archive