Ulemek denies organizing Đinđić’s murder

Ulemek denies organizing Đinđić’s murder

Ulemek showed up in the courtroom wearing a t-shirt depicting a growling wolf–symbol of the MUP Special Operations Unit (JSO), known as the Red Berets, disbanded shortly after the assassination.

Ulemek is a former JSO commander. The second accused in the Đinđić trial, Zvezdan Jovanović, charged with pulling the trigger, was also the unit’s officer.

The 2000 murder of former Serbian president Ivan Stambolić and a string of assassination attempts and kidnapping are also attributed to the Red Berets.  

Judge Nata Mesarević, presiding over the court council, asked Ulemek to explain his decision to wear the t-shirt, to which he replied that he had no intention of frightening anyone.

“You will not influence me with a print [on the t-shirt],” the judge said.

“I can button up my jacket, if you prefer,” Ulemek told the judge.

“You could,” the judge said, after which Ulemek obeyed.

After that, he started presenting his closing argument.

“I, Ulemek Milorad, former JSO commander and retired colonel, have absolutely no connection with organizing the assassination of the prime minister or the assassination itself,” he said.

“I had no reason to harm prime minister Đinđić, since I maintained friendly relations with him, based on mutual respect,” Ulemek continued.

He said the case should be compared to that of Kennedy’s murder, unresolved for 44 years.

“Anyone who believes Lee Harvey Oswald killed Kennedy will also believe Zvezdan Jovanović killed the prime minister.”

“My former brothers-in-arms and the parents of JSO fallen fighters told me that I had a duty to defend the honor and reputation of the JSO, even if I did not wish to defend myself,” Ulemek told the court.

“I swallowed my pride and changed my earlier decision not to participate [in the proceedings] before this court council. Those demands are more important than my pride and other opinions I may have. I thank you for allowing me this.”

He denied the prosecution’s claims that his goal was to install himself in a position of power, that he had any political ambition, and that he decided to kill the prime minister in order to “divert the search party that was readying”.

“If you decide to kill a prime minister, then you can’t possibly expect the situation to calm so that you will be able to carry on with what the prosecutor accuses me of.”

“I am a little confused, since it appears that I had a Hague motive apart from the political one, to kill the prime minister,” Ulemek said.

“In the four years I’ve spent in jail and the ten years since the Hague cooperation was signed, I never heard of anyone showing interest in myself or the JSO.”

“The story that the Hague chapter would be closed by getting rid of the prime minister is utter nonsense,” Ulemek told the court. “More people went to the Hague after his death than when he was alive.”

“I was never interested in gaining power, I am not competent and I don’t consider myself intelligent enough to lead a country,” Ulemek said.

Defense lawyers for the other accused JSO members, Željko Tojaga and Saša Pejaković also presented their closing arguments Friday, calling for their clients’ acquittal.