Serbian War Lord. He was the most notorious European bank robber in history with convictions in Belgium, Holland and Germany and arrest warrants in Sweden and Italy. From a contrived name used to otain a false passport, he was dubbed with the nickname "Arkan." Zeljko Raznatovic managed to escape prison, return to Serbia, dabble in politics, become involved in business and reap a considerable fortune through control of gasoline smuggling and illegal sales during the international sanctions imposed on Yugoslavia during the NATO war years. He is best remembered for his leadership in a paramilitary group, called the "Tigers," which took part in the brutal siege of Vukovar in 1991 and operations in Bosnia for which he was indicted by the Hague War-crimes tribunal. Raznatovic was shot and killed in the Intercontinental Hotel in Belgrade at the age of 47. He had achieved the status of a folk hero and patriot in Serbia. His funeral attracted thousands of mourners. After an Orthodox Christian liturgy at the small chapel in Novo Groblje attended by family members including his mother and the famous folk singer wife Ceca, the body was carried by uniformed members of Arkan's Serb Volunteer Guard to the family plot. A military salute concluded the service and the coffin was lowered into the grave.
Serbian War Lord. He was the most notorious European bank robber in history with convictions in Belgium, Holland and Germany and arrest warrants in Sweden and Italy. From a contrived name used to otain a false passport, he was dubbed with the nickname "Arkan." Zeljko Raznatovic managed to escape prison, return to Serbia, dabble in politics, become involved in business and reap a considerable fortune through control of gasoline smuggling and illegal sales during the international sanctions imposed on Yugoslavia during the NATO war years. He is best remembered for his leadership in a paramilitary group, called the "Tigers," which took part in the brutal siege of Vukovar in 1991 and operations in Bosnia for which he was indicted by the Hague War-crimes tribunal. Raznatovic was shot and killed in the Intercontinental Hotel in Belgrade at the age of 47. He had achieved the status of a folk hero and patriot in Serbia. His funeral attracted thousands of mourners. After an Orthodox Christian liturgy at the small chapel in Novo Groblje attended by family members including his mother and the famous folk singer wife Ceca, the body was carried by uniformed members of Arkan's Serb Volunteer Guard to the family plot. A military salute concluded the service and the coffin was lowered into the grave.
Bio by: Donald Greyfield
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