Six years since the killings at Smilkovci Lake
Five men were killed near the Smilkovci Lake in Skopje on this day six years ago.
The massacre took place on Maundy Thursday, prior to the Orthodox Easter. Kire Trickovski, Filip Slavkovski, Cvetanco Ackovski and Aleksandar Nakjevski, all aged between 18-20, and fisherman Borce Stefanovski, 45, were killed.
Case dubbed “Monster” opened regarding the killings, with Alil Demiri, Afrim and Agim Ismailovic, Ezim and Haki Aziri, and Sami Ljuta sentenced to life in prison.
After rescinding the verdicts, the Supreme Court in December 2017 ordered the acquittal of Agim Ismailovic, Hakji Aziri, Samil Ljuta and Fejzi Aziri. Alil Demiri and Afrim Ismailovic are still at large.
The Special Prosecutor’s Office took over the case last month and the re-trial is expected to resume in the course of April.