Zvezdan Jovanović

{{Short description|Serbian mobster; assassin of Zoran Đinđić (born 1965)}}

{{Infobox criminal

| name = Zvezdan Jovanović

| years_active =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1965|07|19}}

| birth_place = Breznica, near Peć, Yugoslavia

| organization = Special Operations Unit

| known_for = Assassination of Zoran Đinđić

| criminal_charge = Attempted murder and murder of a senior government official

| conviction_penalty = 40-year imprisonment

| conviction_status = Imprisoned

| module = {{Infobox military person

| name = Zvezdan Jovanović

| native_name = Звездан Јовановић

| native_name_lang = sr

| image =

| caption =

| nickname = "Zmija"
"Zveki"

| branch = {{flagicon image|Flag of the Serb Volunteer Guard.svg}} Serb Volunteer Guard
{{flagdeco|Serbia and Montenegro}} Special Operations Unit

| allegiance =

| serviceyears = 1991–2003

| rank = Lieutenant colonel

| commands = Commander of the Serb Volunteer Guard and the Special Operations Unit

| battles= Yugoslav Wars

| awards =

| laterwork =

|embed=yes

}}

| children =

| spouse =

| parents =

}}

Zvezdan Jovanović ({{lang-sr-cyr|Звездан Јовановић}}; born 19 July 1965), known by the nicknames as Zmija and Zveki, is a Serbian former paramilitary and commander of the Serb Volunteer Guard and the Special Operations Unit. In 2003, he assassinated Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Đinđić and was sentenced to 40 years in prison.

Biography

Jovanović was born in the village of Breznica in Kosovo and Metohija, in 1965. He had been a locksmith until joining the Serb Volunteer Guard led by Željko Ražnatović in 1991. Jovanović had been a member of the feared Special Operations Unit and held the police rank of lieutenant colonel.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/2885377.stm|title=BBC News – Europe – Djindjic murder suspect arrested|date=25 March 2003 |access-date=13 May 2016}} He also participated in the Yugoslav Wars in the 1990s, particularly in operations in Kosovo. He was awarded the Medal of Bravery after the wars ended for being a participant in all engagements for the Serbian Forces.{{Cite news |date=2003-03-25 |title=Djindjic murder suspect arrested |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/2885377.stm |access-date=2024-04-05 |language=en-GB}}

= Assassination of Zoran Đinđić =

Jovanović was arrested on the charges of being responsible for the assassination of Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Đinđić in March 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.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/16/weekinreview/the-world-murder-in-belgrade-did-serbia-s-leader-do-the-west-s-bidding-too-well.html |title=The World: Murder in Belgrade; Did Serbia's Leader Do the West's Bidding Too Well? |author=Steven Erlanger |date=16 March 2003 |work=The New York Times|access-date=15 January 2010}}{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/28/world/2-suspects-in-murder-of-serbian-premier-are-killed-by-police.html |title=2 Suspects in Murder of Serbian Premier Are Killed by Police |date=28 March 2003 |work=The New York Times|access-date=15 January 2010}}

Jovanović stated that he killed Đinđić to restore a pro-Milošević government.{{Cite web|title=Assassin says Djindjic murder was to be first of many|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/assassin-says-djindjic-murder-was-to-be-first-of-many-114364.html|date=2003-04-09|website=The Independent|language=en|access-date=2020-05-21}} He was silent during most of his trial but allegedly, he soon confessed to the murder of Đinđić and said in a police report that he feels no remorse for killing him. Due to alleged interrogations, beatings and threats against his family, he claims to have been forced to falsely confess.{{Cite news |date=2007-05-23 |title=Analysis: Marathon Djindjic trial |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6683133.stm |access-date=2024-04-05 |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |title=Group Named in Plot on Serbia Chief |url=https://archive.globalpolicy.org/intljustice/tribunals/yugo/2003/0409plot.htm |access-date=2024-04-05 |website=archive.globalpolicy.org}}{{Cite news |date=2003-12-24 |title=Djindjic 'sniper' remains silent |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3346445.stm |access-date=2024-04-05 |language=en-GB}}

On 23 May 2007, Jovanović was found guilty by the Belgrade Special Court for Combating Organized Crime and was sentenced to 40 years in prison for attempted murder and murder of a senior government official.{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Zvezdanove staze - Vreme |url=https://vreme.com/vreme/zvezdanove-staze/ |access-date=2024-04-05 |website=vreme.com |language=sr}}{{Cite web |date=2016-09-15 |title=Милорад Улемек и Звездан Йованович осуждены на 40 лет |url=http://www.srpska.ru/article.php?nid=12956 |access-date=2024-04-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160915003846/http://www.srpska.ru/article.php?nid=12956 |archive-date=15 September 2016 }} In May 2008, Serbian Radical Party leader Vojislav Šešelj compared the assassination of Đinđić to that of the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand by stating that "Jovanović wanted to enjoy the same fame and glory that Gavrilo Princip has in Serbian history."{{Cite web |date=2008-05-26 |title=B92 - News - Crime & War crimes - Šešelj: Đinđić killer merits same glory as Princip |url=http://www.b92.net/eng/news/crimes-article.php?yyyy=2008&mm=05&dd=21&nav_id=50431 |access-date=2024-04-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080526235957/http://www.b92.net/eng/news/crimes-article.php?yyyy=2008&mm=05&dd=21&nav_id=50431 |archive-date=26 May 2008 }}