Authorities look for wife of Milosevic- She's allegedly tied to politician's death
Slobodan Milosevic' reign of corruption and venality over the former Yugosloavia was something that always surprised those who recognized his limitations. Most analysts felt that Milosevic simply lacked the intellectual agility to manage the day-to-day affairs of a brutal regime, and they were right. He did, however, have an accomplice who was smarter and even more ruthless- his wife.
BELGRADE, Serbia-Montenegro -- There are "credible suspicions" that the wife of former President Slobodan Milosevic was involved in the killing of her husband's predecessor, and she must return from Russia immediately for questioning, Serbia authorities said Saturday.
The alleged involvement of Mirjana Markovic in the 2000 disappearance and killing of former Serbian President Ivan Stambolic was uncovered by police investigating the March 12 assassination of Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic.
Serbia's Interior Ministry said police were "searching intensely" for Markovic, citing "credible suspicions of her involvement in the murder" of Stambolic.
An order to detain Markovic for questioning was issued Friday, shortly after police found the remains of Stambolic, a Milosevic foe who led Serbia during the communist era and disappeared in August 2000 while jogging in a Belgrade park.
After questioning two of Markovic's associates -- officials from her neo-communist Yugoslav Left party -- police learned that Markovic left the country Feb. 23 and currently is in the Russian Federation, a ministry statement said.
Authorities informed Markovic's lawyers that an international warrant for her arrest will be issued unless she returns immediately.
Milosevic's brother, Borislav, a former ambassador to Russia who lives in Moscow, refused to comment when reached by phone.
The discovery of Stambolic's body, shot with two bullets and thrown into a lime pit in northern Serbia, came as police rounded up and questioned thousands of Milosevic-era war veterans, drug traffickers and various underworld figures while investigating Djindjic's murder.
That investigation shed light on the unsolved Stambolic case.
The Interior Ministry called Markovic a "person of utmost political influence" at the time of Stambolic's murder, but did not elaborate on specific details of her alleged involvement. No formal charges have been brought.
Some of us familiar with Milosevic' regime have wondered for some time why his wife was not also in custody in the Hague. She is likely every bit as guilty as her husband; she was just smart enough not to have her fingerprints on the murder weapon. Perhaps now she will finally have to answer for her crimes.
