Woman from Bitola reports partner strangled and threatened her; suspect fled police station

A 21-year-old woman from Bitola has filed criminal charges saying her partner strangled her, beat her and repeatedly threatened to kill her. She reported the abuse to police on 10 November, telling officers the violence had lasted about a year and a half but that she had not reported it earlier out of fear.

Suspect left police custody through a window

After the complaint was lodged, the suspect came voluntarily to the police station accompanied by a parent. According to the Ministry of Interior, when officers told him he would be detained he escaped through an open window.

"While police officers were carrying out official actions with the intention of depriving him of liberty, the person escaped through an open window from the interview room. Police officers were immediately dispatched and measures and activities to find him were undertaken, which continue at this time," the Ministry of Interior said.

The victim's mother, Beti Angelovska, said they went to hospital first and that her daughter was examined in several departments because she had been hit on the head, face and neck. "We went to the hospital; she was examined in several departments because she had been struck on the head, the face and the neck. We went to the police; a report was made, where my daughter told everything that happened, that he strangled her and she couldn't breathe," Angelovska said.

Angelovska also said the family has messages from social media in which, she alleges, the suspect constantly threatened her daughter and the family. "We have evidence, the entire Instagram conversation is full of threats. 'I'll kill you, I'll kill your mother.' She often did not want to go to him, but was forced. And he wrote: 'come or I'll kill you' and he wrote that he would put needles under her nails," she added.

By the family's request and the assessment of the Centre for Social Work, the young woman has been placed in a shelter centre. She appeared at a court hearing on 13 November but the accused did not attend; the hearing was rescheduled for 18 November because the summons was not properly served.

The Ministry bulletin on 11 November stated that the woman had reported a physical attack and long-term maltreatment, but did not mention the escape. The Ministry's Internal Control Department has been notified and will determine whether police officers bear responsibility for the events at the station.

Photo: press material from the event