15th anniversary of Djindjic assassination


Today marks 15 years since Prime Minister and leader of the Democratic Party Zoran Djindjic was killed in front of the government building in Belgrade.

Djindjic was Serbia’s first prime minister after the fall of Slobodan Milosevic’s regime in 2000 and the coming to power of the Democratic Opposition of Serbia (DOS) coalition. The government it headed was elected on January 25, 2001.
During his mandate, a process of democratization of society and fundamental economic and social reforms began.
Djindjic’s government strongly advocated cooperation with The Hague war crimes tribunal and during that government several of those accused were arrested and extradited to this court, including former President of Serbia and Yugoslavia Slobodan Milosevic.

Djindjic was assassinated on March 12, 2003. at about 12:25 CET, in front of the government building.
The former commander of the Red Berets (JSO) Milorad Ulemek, as well as Zvezdan Jovanovic, who is the immediate perpetrator of the murder and former Ulemek deputy, were sentenced to 40 years in prison for organizing the murder of the prime minister.

The political background of Djindjic’s murder has not yet been revealed.