16 June 2006, Budapest, Skopje. The European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC) and the National Roma Centrum (NRC) sent a letter to Dr. Vlado Buckovski, Prime Minister of the Republic of Macedonia expressing grave concern about the recent death of a Romani youth named Trajan Bekirov, and urging that Macedonian authorities to carry out a prompt, thorough and effective investigation. Copies of the letter were also sent to Ms. Meri Mladenovska Gjorgjievska, Minister of Justice, Mr. Ljubomir Mihajlovski, Minister of Interior, and Mr. Aleksandar Prcevski, Public Prosecutor of the Republic of Macedonia. Seventeen-year-old Trajan Bekirov was last seen alive after Macedonian police “Alfi” units chased him and his friend, Orhan Isemi, on 11 May 2006. His body was discovered on 28 May 2006 in the river Vardar near the village of Tubarevo. The Institute for Judicial Medicine carried out an autopsy, the result of which is still unknown. A criminal investigation is reportedly open, but as of the date of this letter, no results have been made public. Media articles in Macedonia have featured sensational allegations, such as the contention that Trajan Bekirov’s organs may have been stolen. Trajan Bekirov’s parents believe the initial police chase was influenced by racial considerations. They also allege an anti-Romani bias among Macedonian authorities. The ERRC/NRC letter urges the respective authorities to undertake any and all measures available to ensure a swift, full, thorough and effective investigation into the death of Trajan Bekirov, and that any and all perpetrators involved in illegal actions in connection with his death be swiftly brought to justice. The organisations urge further that authorities investigate the possibility of racial motive or animus in the circumstances leading to and/or surrounding Trajan Bekirov’s death, in addition to seeking to determine whether other forms of wrongdoing have taken place. The results of the investigation, including that of the autopsy, should be transparent, and set to rest any and all open questions surrounding these events. The full text of the ERRC/NRC letter is available here:

Honourable Prime Minister Buckovski,

The European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC) is a Budapest-based international public interest law organization aimed at combating anti-Romani racisms and human rights abuse of Roma. The National Roma Centrum (NRC) is a professional non-governmental organization located in Kumanovo, Macedonia, with the aim of representing and stimulating the active participation and integration of Romani people on the principles of the modern multiethnic European society. The ERRC and NRC are writing to express grave concern about the recent death of a Romani youth named Trajan Bekirov, and to urge that Macedonian authorities carry out a prompt, thorough and effective investigation. Seventeen-year-old Trajan Bekirov was last seen alive after Macedonian police “Alfi” units chased him and his friend, Orhan Isemi, on 11 May 2006. His body was discovered on 28 May 2006 in the Vardar river near the village of Tubarevo. The Institute for Judicial Medicine carried out an autopsy, the result of which is still unknown. A criminal investigation is reportedly open, but as of the date of this letter, no results have been made public. Media articles in Macedonia have featured sensational allegations, such as the contention that Trajan Bekirov’s organs may have been stolen. Honourable Prime Minister Buckovski, The European Court of Human Right’s case law and other international legal standards require a prompt and effective official investigation where there are potential violations of the European Convention on Human Rights. Further positive obligations arise where there is a possibility th