What happened: A group of unknown perpetrators robbed three nationals of Sri Lanka in the village
of Vizbegovo near the Reception Center for Asylum Seekers. While the three persons were walking
on a street, they were intercepted by 10 unknown male persons dressed in dark clothes with masked
heads and surrounded them, and thus by threatening them and by means of physical force robbed
them of two mobile phones, 120 euros and an identity card for asylum, after which they left the place
of the event. By doing so, the perpetrators gained an illegal profi t of around 51,000 MKD.
Date, time and location of the incident: 11 February, at 12:45, near the Reception Center for Asylum
Seekers in the village of Vizbegovo.
Source of information: Electronic medium MKD.mk.
Victim(s) involved: Three migrants from Sri Lanka.
Type of the crime(s): Robbery (Article 237, CC), Burglary (Article 236, CC).
Perpetrator(s): A group of 10 unknown perpetrators.
Brief description of the incident with bias indicators: In this incident, the bias motive is ethnicity,
nationality or language and the bias indicators are:
1. Difference in ethnicity – the ethnicity of the perpetrators is different from the ethnicity of the
victims; the victims are members of a group (Sri Lankan migrants) which is signifi cantly outnumbered
by citizens of the area where the incident occurred;
2. Pattern of previous incidents – this incident is the latest in a growing trend of robberies and attacks
on migrants.
Status of the case: Under investigation
Response of Local Authorities: In MOI’s response to the Committee’s request for public information
regarding this incident, it is stated that SIA Skopje submitted a Report to the Public Prosecutor’s
Offi ce – Skopje on 17.02.2016.
Impact on the victim(s) and the community: This incident calls into question the safety of migrants
entering and passing through the country.
