Operation Sablja
Encyclopedia
The Operation Sablja was launched on March 12, 2003, following the assassination of Zoran Đinđić, the Prime Minister
of Serbia
. The assassination destabilized the government. Immediately after the assassination, a state of emergency was declared by interim president Nataša Mićić
. The government mounted Operation Sablja.
This police action was aimed at finding the assassins and was seen as a blow to organized crime, but a number of political opponents to the Democratic Party
and its government were arrested during this action in connection with Mafia. Most were later freed. At the end of the operation, most of the suspects for the assassination were arrested. The main suspect, Milorad Ulemek, is currently on trial for murdering the Prime Minister and has been sentenced for the Ibarska magistrala crime
to 40 years in jail.
Some political opponents accused government of human rights abuse during the operation but government and proponents of the action pointed out that Serbia became member of Council of Europe
during the action and that majority of the organizations sent to analyze situation during the operation including the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
declared that operation was without breaches of human rights. Some organisations disagree, notably Human Rights Watch
(http://www.hrw.org/press/2003/03/serbia032503-ltr.htm, http://hrw.org/english/docs/2003/03/25/serbia5429.htm, http://hrw.org/english/docs/2003/04/07/serbia5507.htm, http://www.hrw.org/update/2003/04.html#12) and Amnesty International
. They are especially critical of the fact that some suspected criminals were interrogated without a lawyer being present.
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
of Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
. The assassination destabilized the government. Immediately after the assassination, a state of emergency was declared by interim president Nataša Mićić
Nataša Micic
Nataša Mićić is a Serbian politician. She is an MP in the Serbian parliament and the vice-president of the Liberal Democratic Party ....
. The government mounted Operation Sablja.
This police action was aimed at finding the assassins and was seen as a blow to organized crime, but a number of political opponents to the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (Serbia)
The Democratic Party is a political party in Serbia. It is described as a social liberal or social democratic party.-Pre-war history:The Democratic Party was established on 16 February 1919 from unification of Sarajevo parties independent radicals, progressives, liberals and the Serbian part of...
and its government were arrested during this action in connection with Mafia. Most were later freed. At the end of the operation, most of the suspects for the assassination were arrested. The main suspect, Milorad Ulemek, is currently on trial for murdering the Prime Minister and has been sentenced for the Ibarska magistrala crime
Ibarska magistrala assassination
The Ibar highway assassination attempt refers to the events of October 3, 1999 when active members of the Yugoslav state security's Special Operations Unit attempted to murder Vuk Drašković on the Ibar highway by slamming a truck full of sand into his two-car motorcade...
to 40 years in jail.
Some political opponents accused government of human rights abuse during the operation but government and proponents of the action pointed out that Serbia became member of Council of Europe
Council of Europe
The Council of Europe is an international organisation promoting co-operation between all countries of Europe in the areas of legal standards, human rights, democratic development, the rule of law and cultural co-operation...
during the action and that majority of the organizations sent to analyze situation during the operation including the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe is the world's largest security-oriented intergovernmental organization. Its mandate includes issues such as arms control, human rights, freedom of the press and fair elections...
declared that operation was without breaches of human rights. Some organisations disagree, notably Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch is an international non-governmental organization that conducts research and advocacy on human rights. Its headquarters are in New York City and it has offices in Berlin, Beirut, Brussels, Chicago, Geneva, Johannesburg, London, Los Angeles, Moscow, Paris, San Francisco, Tokyo,...
(http://www.hrw.org/press/2003/03/serbia032503-ltr.htm, http://hrw.org/english/docs/2003/03/25/serbia5429.htm, http://hrw.org/english/docs/2003/04/07/serbia5507.htm, http://www.hrw.org/update/2003/04.html#12) and Amnesty International
Amnesty International
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
. They are especially critical of the fact that some suspected criminals were interrogated without a lawyer being present.