The Red Berets, or the JSO unit, when it was established, remained out of the public eye for a long time and was not known by its official name. Some of its members had criminal records. During the wars in the territory of the former Yugoslavia, certain members and parts of the unit were involved in war crimes, criminal activity, and war profiteering. This is the story of them, of how they were formed, how they operated, and who the Red Berets were.
Who were the “Red Berets” or the “JSO”?
The Special Operations Unit, known as the Red Berets, was an elite unit of the State Security Service of Serbia, active during the 1990s and early 2000s. Its history is intertwined with numerous events at the end of the last century in the former Yugoslavia, and its activities were the subject of many controversies.
Formation and Origins
In the early 1990s, with the breakup of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, conflicts escalated in the territories of Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. In this context, the State Security Service of Serbia, under the leadership of Jovica Stanišić, formed a special unit to conduct covert operations and support Serbian forces in the region. The organization of this unit was entrusted to Franko Simatović, known as Frenki, an experienced operative of the State Security Service.
The first engagement of this group was recorded in July 1991, when around 25 members arrived in Knin, then the center of the Serbian Autonomous Region of Krajina. Under the leadership of Dragan Vasiljković, known as Captain Dragan, the unit provided training to local forces and participated in combat operations. After internal conflicts among the leaders in Knin, Vasiljković withdrew, and command was taken over directly by Simatović.
Role in the Wars in the Territory of Former Yugoslavia
During the wars in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Red Berets were deployed on various fronts. They took part in operations in eastern Slavonia, Baranja, western Srem, as well as in battles around Brčko, the Drina Valley, Sarajevo, Maglaj, and western Bosnia. In addition to direct combat activities, the unit managed 26 training camps for Serbian forces in the self-proclaimed Republics of Serbian Krajina and Republika Srpska.
After the end of the conflicts in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1996, the unit was restructured and formally integrated into the State Security Service of Serbia as the Special Operations Unit. Under the command of Milorad Ulemek, known as Legija, who had previously been a prominent member of Arkan’s Tigers, the JSO became a key actor in Serbia’s internal affairs.
Controversies and Involvement in Criminal Activities
The JSO was frequently associated with various controversial and criminal activities. During the NATO bombing in 1999, the unit was accused of political assassinations, including the murder of journalist Slavko Ćuruvija. Members of the JSO were also linked to the assassination attempt on officials of the Serbian Renewal Movement on the Ibar Highway in 1999, in which four people were killed while the leader of the SPO, Vuk Drašković, survived.
After the change of government in Serbia in 2000, the JSO expressed dissatisfaction with the new administration’s cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. At the end of 2001, the unit organized protests and blocked roads, demanding leadership changes in the Ministry of Internal Affairs. These events further damaged its reputation and led to increased monitoring of its activities. The crisis reached its peak on March 12, 2003, when Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Đinđić was assassinated. Investigations revealed that certain members of the JSO, in cooperation with the Zemun Clan, were directly involved in planning and carrying out the assassination. These events led to the declaration of a state of emergency in the country and the launch of Operation Sabre, during which many members of criminal groups were arrested and the JSO was officially disbanded.
Legacy and Influence on Modern Serbia
Although the JSO was formally disbanded, its influence on Serbia’s security structures remains visible. Many former members continued their careers in private security agencies or became involved in criminal activities. Some also joined police or military structures, where they applied the experience gained within the JSO.
Impact on Security Structures and Criminal Networks
The disbandment of the JSO was part of a broader crackdown on organized crime in Serbia, but some former members remained close to political and economic circles. Over the years, evidence emerged that certain groups within the police and military continued to operate according to the principles that had governed the JSO. Some former members of the JSO transitioned into criminal networks, continuing collaborations with organized crime groups. Some participated in drug and arms trafficking and extortion, while others took roles in providing security for private individuals and companies.
Despite the criminal activities and negative aspects of the JSO’s operations, the unit has, in certain circles, remained a symbol of Serbian patriotism and military skill. In popular culture, stories about the Red Berets are often romanticized through films, TV series, and books that portray its members as heroes or controversial figures. However, historians and analysts warn that glorifying the JSO can obscure the unit’s crimes and illegal activities, as well as its contribution to the destabilization of Serbia during the transitional period.
Trials and Accountability
Following the disbandment of the JSO, investigations and trials revealed many aspects of the unit’s operations. Several former members were sentenced to lengthy prison terms for involvement in the assassination of Prime Minister Zoran Đinđić. Milorad Ulemek, known as Legija, was sentenced to 40 years in prison as the organizer of the assassination. Some JSO members faced charges in international and domestic courts for crimes committed during the wars in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Kosovo. However, many cases did not reach final convictions due to lack of evidence or political pressures.
Although formally disbanded in 2003, the JSO’s influence is still felt in various segments of society, from security services to popular culture. Its legacy remains a subject of debate – some see it as a symbol of professionalism and patriotism, while others view it as an embodiment of abuse of power and organized crime in the service of the state.
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