Twenty-two years ago, on the steps of the Serbian Government building on Nemanjina Street, former Prime Minister Zoran Đinđić was assassinated. The political context surrounding the assassination of the first democratic Prime Minister following the fall of Slobodan Milošević’s regime remains unclarified to this day, according to reports from N1.

On March 12, 2003, Đinđić was fatally shot in the chest by two sniper rounds in the government courtyard. He was rushed to the emergency room, where attempts to resuscitate him were unfortunately unsuccessful.

In the hours following Đinđić’s death, the Serbian government declared a state of emergency, which continued until April 22 of the same year.

During this state of emergency, the police operation named “Saber” was launched, resulting in the arrest of Zvezdan Jovanović, the assassin and former commander of the JSO.

Operation Saber saw over 11,000 people detained, including members of various criminal clans, politicians, high-ranking military officials, judiciary representatives, and several well-known entertainment figures.

Đinđić was laid to rest on March 15 in the Alley of Deserving Citizens at the New Cemetery in Belgrade, where more than 70 international delegations were present for his funeral.

The leaders of the dismantled Special Operations Unit (JSO), Milorad Ulemek Legija and Zvezdan Jovanović, along with members of the Zemun clan, were prosecuted for his murder.

In August 2003, 44 individuals were accused of involvement in the crime; the trial commenced on December 22, 2003, at the Belgrade District Court’s Department for Combating Organized Crime, culminating on May 23, 2007, with 378 years of prison sentences issued collectively.

Zoran Đinđić co-founded the Democratic Party (DS), serving as the President of its Executive Board and later as President of the DS from January 1994 until his assassination. He also held the distinction of being the first non-communist mayor of Belgrade since 1945.

Under Đinđić’s leadership, significant steps were taken towards democratizing society and implementing sweeping economic and social reforms.

His administration promoted cooperation with the Hague Tribunal, leading to the arrests and extradition of several indictees, including the former President of Serbia and FRY, Slobodan Milošević, who was extradited on June 28, 2001.

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