Tevinter? Well, that's certainly a pointed reference with very specific connotations in Strange's mind. "Did the elven Empire engage in some of Tevinter's practices that most Fereldens would consider...less than savory?"

Slavery, for one. Blood magic for another. There's a laundry list of things that Tevinter does that most people would look on a bit suspiciously. And if someone tried to stop something like slavery or blood magic, that might be an action worrying enough to put murder on the table in the first place.