Killed in a hotel lobby in Belgrade: 25 years since the death of Arkan, the infamous serbian paramilitary leader

It has been 25 years since the killing of Zeljko Raznatović, known as Arkan, one of the most notorious and feared Serbian paramilitary figures during the wars in the former Yugoslavia.

The incident occurred on January 15, 2000, around midday, in the lobby of the Intercontinental Hotel in Belgrade. Arkan was shot dead as he was entering the hotel, accompanied by two bodyguards.

Dobroša Gavrić, a former police officer, was accused of carrying out the killing, acting together with Milan Đuričić and Dragan Nikolić. The attack was swift and left no room for reaction.

Zeljko Raznatović was the leader of the Serbian Volunteer Guard, known as the “Arkan’s Tigers,” a paramilitary unit involved in numerous crimes during the wars in Croatia, Bosnia, and Kosovo. He was accused of mass killings, violent expulsions, and the destruction of civilian communities, particularly targeting Muslim and Catholic populations.

His criminal career began at a young age, while in the 1970s he was recruited by the Yugoslav State Security Service (UDBA) to operate abroad. Later, through these connections, he established strong ties within international organized crime.

In 1990, following political changes in the former Yugoslavia, Arkan formed the “Arkan’s Tigers,” who became a symbol of paramilitary terror during the civil wars.

Despite his past, in Serbia he was regarded by parts of the public as a national figure. He was married to the famous singer Ceca, had eight children, and owned the Belgrade football club Obilić.

After the wars, Arkan became a businessman and continued to wield influence in public life until his assassination.

The killing of Arkan marked the end of a dark figure in Balkan history. He never faced justice for war crimes, while the memory of the atrocities associated with his name remains alive in history and in the collective memory of the victims.

The GeoPost