Serbian Prime Minister Assassinated

In the bitterness following the Yugoslav wars Zoran Ðindic, Serbia’s first democratically elected Prime Minister, was viewed by hardliners in his country as pro-Western traitor to Serbia that had arrested Slobodan Milosovic and allowed him to be extradited to the international criminal court.

He had also made enemies in the criminal underworld by trying to curb rampant organized crime.

At the time the hardliners and criminals often worked hand in hand and after a failed attempt by the criminal element in February 2003 Dindic was killed by a former member of the Serbian Secret Police who fired a round into his heart from 180m away instantly killing him and severely wounding a bodyguard standing behind him. The rifle used was a Heckler & Koch G3.

His death had a chilling effect on democratic reforms but his assassination, which was widely condemned in the country, has also been described as a moment of unity and reflection in a nation that was incredibly divided at the the time