On this day, exactly 22 years ago, former Prime Minister Zoran Đinđić was assassinated at the entrance of the Serbian Government building on Nemanjina Street. The political motivations behind the assassination of Serbia’s first democratic Prime Minister after the fall of Slobodan Milošević’s regime remain undisclosed to this day, reports N1.

On March 12, 2003, Đinđić was fatally shot in the chest by two sniper bullets in the courtyard of the government. Despite efforts to revive him in the emergency room, he could not be saved.

Shortly after Đinđić’s death, a state of emergency was imposed in Serbia, which lasted until April 22 of that same year.

This state of emergency led to the initiation of the “Saber” police operation, resulting in the arrest of Zvezdan Jovanović, the assassin and former commander of the JSO.

Operation Saber saw over 11,000 individuals arrested, including members of the Zemun and other criminal clans, politicians, high-ranking military personnel, judicial officials, and several figures from the entertainment industry.

Đinđić was laid to rest on March 15 in the Alley of Deserving Citizens at the New Cemetery in Belgrade, attended by over 70 foreign state delegations.

Those tried for the murder included Milorad Ulemek Legija and Zvezdan Jovanović, leaders of the disbanded Special Operations Unit (JSO), along with members of the Zemun clan.

In August 2003, 44 individuals were charged in connection with the murder, with the trial commencing on December 22, 2003, in the Department for Combating Organized Crime of the Belgrade District Court. On May 23, 2007, they were found guilty and collectively sentenced to 378 years in prison.

Zoran Đinđić played a pivotal role in establishing the Democratic Party (DS), where he served as President of the Executive Board and held the position of DS President from January 1994 until his assassination. He was also recognized as the first non-communist mayor of Belgrade following 1945.

During his time in office, Đinđić initiated significant democratization processes and radical economic and social reforms.

His administration endorsed cooperation with the Hague Tribunal, leading to the arrest and extradition of several indicted individuals, including former Serbian and FRY President Slobodan Milošević, who was extradited on June 28, 2001.

News