Prosecutors on charges related to Đinđić murder

The mother and sister of assassinated PM Zoran Djindjic have filed criminal charges against New Serbia leader Velimir Ilic and former deputy PM Nebojsa Covic. The charges were filed on suspicion of their involvement in the assassination of Djindjic in 2003, Prosecutor for Organized Crime Miljko Radisavljevic said. Prosecutors on charges related to Djindjic murder The Special Prosecutor's Office for Organized Crime will immediately proceed with the charges, Radisavljevic told Tanjug. Mila Djindjic and Gordana-Djindjic Filipovic claim that Ilic and Covic knew that Milorad Ulemek, a former commander of the Serbian secret police special unit, the JSO, convicted of the assassination of prime minister Djindjic, was recruiting accomplices and creating an association for the attack on the constitutional order to replace the then government, which he had called subservient and deferential, with other people who would take more care about national dignity. The complaint alleges that Covic and Ilic knowingly failed to report their knowledge of the preparations for the crime to the competent authorities, which constitutes a serious criminal act. In early February 2003, knowing that Ulemek was at the time trying to gain the favor of certain political personalities and parties to overthrow the then government and bring in a new political structure, Covic joined the agreement between Ulemek and Dusan Spasojevic to use the help of the notorious Zemun Clan, a mafia group based in Belgrade, and JSO to assassinate the former prime minister, said the complaint. Covic was assuring Ulemek and Spasojevic that he would take the prime minister seat following the assassination, to which Ulemek agreed, according to the charges. Following the agreement, Covic maintained regular contact with Ulemek, the two discussing the method of execution, the charges state. Covic frequently inquired about the progress and the manner of execution both personally and through intermediaries, according to the charges. Covic also criticized a previous failed assassination attempt, offering to make available a location in Uzicka Street, opposite the residence of the prime minister, from which one could shoot at him, state the charges. Djindjic was assassinated by a JSO member acting on the order by Ulemek in Belgrade on March 12, 2003. Nebojsa Covic reacted to the accusations to tell Radio Free Europe that the case amounted to "abuse of the two women by lawyer Srdja Popovic". "It's shameful what lawyer Popovic is doing, those are lies and insinuations," Covic stated, and added that he "talked to various organs with jurisdiction on several occasions". "I have faith in the state and the judicial organs, and I do not allow my family to be insulted by Srdja Popovic," said the former deputy premier. Covic also noted that the complaint filed against him contained no new allegations, and that claims found it it "have already been made and explained several times". Srdja Popovic, for his part, said that the criminal complaint that he filed on behalf of Djindjic's mother and sister was based on statements made by collaborating witnesses. He accused both politicians with "not reporting preparations for perpetration of the criminal act of attack on the constitutional order". Velimir Ilic also reacted to the accusations to say that there was no reason for the criminal complaint to be filed, since the letter that came from Legija was given to the authorities before the assassination took place. "Everyone had insight into Legija's letter before Djindjic's assassination, in which he called for a change of the order, but nobody took him serously, and I'm not responsible that nobody undertook any measures," Ilic told reporters in parliament on Thursday. The MP and NS party leader added that the informed Djindjic himself about the letter in question, and that they talked about it for two hours, but that Djindjic also failed to take the situation seriously. Miljko Radisavljevic (FoNet, file)

Prosecutors on charges related to Đinđić murder

The Special Prosecutor's Office for Organized Crime will immediately proceed with the charges, Radisavljević told Tanjug.

Mila Đinđić and Gordana-Đinđić Filipović claim that Ilić and Čović knew that Milorad Ulemek, a former commander of the Serbian secret police special unit, the JSO, convicted of the assassination of prime minister Đinđić, was recruiting accomplices and creating an association for the attack on the constitutional order to replace the then government, which he had called subservient and deferential, with other people who would take more care about national dignity.

The complaint alleges that Čović and Ilić knowingly failed to report their knowledge of the preparations for the crime to the competent authorities, which constitutes a serious criminal act.

In early February 2003, knowing that Ulemek was at the time trying to gain the favor of certain political personalities and parties to overthrow the then government and bring in a new political structure, Čović joined the agreement between Ulemek and Dušan Spasojević to use the help of the notorious Zemun Clan, a mafia group based in Belgrade, and JSO to assassinate the former prime minister, said the complaint.

Čović was assuring Ulemek and Spasojević that he would take the prime minister seat following the assassination, to which Ulemek agreed, according to the charges.

Following the agreement, Čović maintained regular contact with Ulemek, the two discussing the method of execution, the charges state.

Čović frequently inquired about the progress and the manner of execution both personally and through intermediaries, according to the charges.

Čović also criticized a previous failed assassination attempt, offering to make available a location in Užicka Street, opposite the residence of the prime minister, from which one could shoot at him, state the charges.

Đinđić was assassinated by a JSO member acting on the order by Ulemek in Belgrade on March 12, 2003.

Nebojša Čović reacted to the accusations to tell Radio Free Europe that the case amounted to "abuse of the two women by lawyer Srđa Popović".

"It's shameful what lawyer Popović is doing, those are lies and insinuations," Čović stated, and added that he "talked to various organs with jurisdiction on several occasions".

"I have faith in the state and the judicial organs, and I do not allow my family to be insulted by Srđa Popović," said the former deputy premier.

Čović also noted that the complaint filed against him contained no new allegations, and that claims found it it "have already been made and explained several times".

Srđa Popović, for his part, said that the criminal complaint that he filed on behalf of Đinđić's mother and sister was based on statements made by collaborating witnesses.

He accused both politicians with "not reporting preparations for perpetration of the criminal act of attack on the constitutional order".

Velimir Ilić also reacted to the accusations to say that there was no reason for the criminal complaint to be filed, since the letter that came from Legija was given to the authorities before the assassination took place.

"Everyone had insight into Legija's letter before Đinđić's assassination, in which he called for a change of the order, but nobody took him serously, and I'm not responsible that nobody undertook any measures," Ilić told reporters in parliament on Thursday.

The MP and NS party leader added that the informed Đinđić himself about the letter in question, and that they talked about it for two hours, but that Đinđić also failed to take the situation seriously.