Lyudmila Turkova (28) from St Petersburg was found dead in Belgrade, with the investigation leading to the arrest of a 25-year-old Turkish national on suspicion of murder. Serbian police arrested the suspect at Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport as he was attempting to leave the country, marking a turning point in the search that had lasted five days following the woman's disappearance.
The woman had travelled to Belgrade for a two-week holiday and had rented accommodation in the Borča district. It is believed the crime took place in this rented flat, where the suspect allegedly killed Turkova on Sunday morning. After committing the act, the man placed the woman's body in a suitcase, concealing the evidence from the public and authorities.
The disappearance was reported after Lyudmila failed to check in. Her mother had previously stated that her daughter had gone out for a walk with friends and would check in the following day. However, the woman did not respond to calls or messages, nor was she active on social media. Her relatives were further concerned as she did not return to her apartment for personal belongings.
Investigators established that Turkova sent her last message at 23:15, after which she was due to go to a nightclub in the evening. It is not known if she reached the venue, but the murder is believed to have taken place in the early hours of Sunday. The body was found in a suitcase, confirming the theory of a deliberate concealment of the victim.
