Bosnian Woman Escapes Kidnapping

Sara Ajna, 19, Was Abducted in Skopje on Sunday

By Andrew Higgins The New York Times July 12, 2023

SKOPJE, Macedonia — A Bosnian woman who was kidnapped here Sunday was found safe just hours later in a village outside the capital. Sara Ajna, 19, was snatched from the street in the central part of the city at about 6 a.m. on Sunday by three masked men wearing blue uniforms. Her abduction was caught on security cameras and widely circulated on social media. The police said they had made two arrests, including a man who was caught driving Ajna’s car. They said they believed that the motive for the kidnapping was to extort money from her family in Bosnia, but that they could not yet confirm this.

Ajna was found by two women who were picking mushrooms in a forest near the village of Ljubanci, about 10 miles east of Skopje. She was unharmed but in shock. She was taken to a hospital for examination and is expected to be released soon.

The kidnapping of Ajna has shocked Macedonia, a country with a low crime rate. The police said they were still investigating and appealed to the public for information about the suspects.

Ajna’s abduction was the latest in a series of kidnappings in the region. In recent months, several women have been kidnapped in Albania and Serbia. The motives for these kidnappings are unknown, but they have raised concerns about the safety of women in the region.

Ajna’s escape is a reminder that even in the most dangerous situations, there is always hope. Her courage and determination are an inspiration to us all.