Zvezdan Jovanović

Zvezdan Jovanović (Serbian Cyrillic: Звездан Јовановић) (born July 19, 1965), also known as Zveki and Zmija (Snake) is the assassin of former Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Đinđić on March 12 2003. Jovanovic was born in a village of Breznica in Metohija. His original job was a locksmith. He joined the Serbian war volunteers led by Željko Ražnatović "Arkan" in 1991. Jovanović had been a member of the feared paramilitary unit, the Red Berets, and held the police rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He was active in the series of Yugoslav wars in the 1990s, particularly in Kosovo. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/2885377.stm BBC NEWS | World | Europe | Djindjic murder suspect arrested ] ]

Jovanović was arrested on the charges of assassination of Đinđić in March of 2003. He was convicted of the murder and sentenced to 40 years in prison. The evidence connected him to the infamous Zemun Clan of Serbia's organized crime network, and to its alleged leader, Milorad Ulemek "Legija". He was silent during most of his trial but, allegedly, once confessed to the murder of Đinđić and said in a police report that he feels no remorse for killing him. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/6683133.stm BBC NEWS | World | Europe | Analysis: Marathon Djindjic trial ] ] [ [http://www.globalpolicy.org/intljustice/tribunals/yugo/2003/0409plot.htm Group Named in Plot on Serbia Chief - International Justice - Global Policy Forum ] ] [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3346445.stm BBC NEWS | Europe | Djindjic 'sniper' remains silent ] ]

In May 2008, ICTY-imprisoned Serbian Radical Party leader Vojislav Šešelj compared Jovanovic with Archduke Franz Ferdinand assassin, saying “he would enjoy the same fame and glory that Gavrilo Princip has in Serbian history” [ [http://www.b92.net/eng/news/crimes-article.php?yyyy=2008&mm=05&dd=21&nav_id=50431 Šešelj: Đinđić killer merits same glory as Princip] , "B92", 21 May 2008]

References

ee also

*Assassination of Zoran Đinđić