Croatia media reported today that the State Prosecutor's Office (DORH) had launched a preliminary investigation to establish if Perkovic was responsible for the murder of Croatian dissident Stjepan Djurekovic in Germany in 1983. By launching a probe, Croatia cannot extradite him to Germany, which has already issued an European Arrest Warrant (EAW), the media said.
Asked if the preliminary investigation could be linked to last Friday's decision in parliament to accede to constitutional changes to lift the statute of limitations on politically committed first degree murders, Mlakar said yes. "Constitutional changes aren't necessary to act on the (EAW) and extradite the man to a German court if the statute of limitation hasn't expired, as we claim."
The parliamentary decision was adopted without the HDZ, whose deputies walked out during the vote.
Vladimir Seks of the HDZ said DORH should have informed the public about the preliminary investigation, and not Perkovic's attorney. Labour Party president Dragutin Lesar too said DOTH should take a position on the reports in the media.