NORTH Macedonia’s police issued an international arrest warrant late yesterday for a local far-right party leader over his role in a double murder.  

In a case that shocked the Balkan nation, the bodies of a 14-year-girl from the capital Skopje, who disappeared a week ago, and of a 74-year-old man from the central town of Veles, who went missing a few days before her, were found on Sunday, an interior ministry statement said.  

The girl’s body was found on the outskirts of Skopje while the man’s remains were discovered close to Veles.  

According to the police, four people were involved in both crimes, three of whom have been detained.  

The prime suspect and alleged organiser of the crimes, identified as Ljupco Palevski, has fled to neighbouring Serbia, police said and added they have issued an international arrest warrant for him.  

The girl’s father was also held and remanded in 48-hour custody.  

The three arrested suspects have admitted being involved in the crime and “who did what”, head of Skopje public prosecutor’s office Gavril Bubevski told reporters.  

Interior Minister Oliver Spasovski said the main motives behind both crimes were “greediness and financial benefit”.   

One of the arrested suspects in “agreement and with knowledge of a (girl’s) family member organised the execution of the crime in order to extort money from her mother”, he told reporters.  

Palevski is a well-known public figure and leader of a minor radical right-wing political party.  

In recent years, the former businessman and media owner has been involved in pro-Russian activities.  

According to the investigation, the murdered 74-year-old man owed money to one of the suspects and was a collateral victim as his car was used to abduct the girl.  

The car was later burnt close to the location where the girl’s body was found. – AFP, December 5, 2023.