Ramiz Delalić (Serbo-Croatian Cyrillic: Рамиз Делалић; 15 February 1963 – 27 June 2007), widely known by his nickname Ćelo (Serbo-Croatian Cyrillic: Ћело, Serbo-Croatian pronunciation: [tɕelo][nb 1]), was a Bosnian underworld figure and wartime ARBiH officer who commanded Sarajevo’s 9th Brigade. Delalić gained notoriety as the main suspect who stood trial before a local court for the killing of Nikola Gardović on 1 March 1992, but was killed in 2007 before the trial concluded.
Ramiz Delalić Рамиз Делалић | |
|---|---|
| Nickname | Ćelo |
| Born | 15 February 1963 |
| Died | 27 June 2007 (aged 44) |
| Allegiance |  Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina |
Branch | Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina |
Rank |  Brigadier |
| Unit | 9th Mountain Brigade (1st Corps) |
| Commands | Commander of 9th Mountain Brigade of the 1st Corps |
Conflicts | Bosnian War |
Activities
editRamiz Delalić and Mušan "Caco" Topalović were among several Sarajevo underworld figures who became involved in the city’s early wartime defence structures. Delalić was associated with the ARBiH 9th Motorised Brigade, while Topalović commanded the 10th Mountain Brigade.[1] The 9th Brigade was formed as a result of the merging of the 3rd and 7th Mountain Brigade. Delalić is described as its deputy commander under Suljo Imsirović, although he was informally considered at times to be its commander.[2]
Both formations later gained reputations for criminality and lack of discipline; the ICTY Halilović case referred to the 9th and 10th Brigades as having “notorious reputations for being criminal and uncontrolled in behaviour.”[1][3] In addition to guarding key positions on Mount Trebević, their gangs "requisitioned" private vehicles; kidnapped men to dig trenches at the front; murdered, raped and robbed with impunity.[4]
In October 1993, Bosnian authorities moved against these rogue command structures during "Operation Trebević 2" and Delalić was jailed on charges connected to his unit’s criminal activity in Sarajevo.[1][5]
Sarajevo wedding attack
editOn 1 March 1992, a Bosnian Serb wedding procession in front of the Old Church in Sarajevo's old quarter of Baščaršija was attacked, resulting in death of the father of the groom, Nikola Gardović, and the wounding of a Serbian Orthodox priest Radenko Mirović. Delalić was identified by eyewitnesses as the alleged shooter. Although a warrant was reportedly issued shortly after the attack, Delalić was not charged until 8 December 2004, when he was indicted for first degree murder in relation to the wedding attack.[6] Delalić was shot and killed by unidentified gunmen in Sarajevo before the completion of his trial.[7]
Death
editDelalić was gunned down at the entrance to his apartment building in the center of Sarajevo, on 27 June 2007. The killer waited for Delalić and fired at him on two occasions, each time with multiple shots.[8] Immediately after the shooting, an ambulance arrived, though doctors pronounced Delalić dead shortly after. Police believed the murder was organized by Naser Kelmendi, a Kosovo-born drug trafficker and Delalić's rival.[9] Delalić was buried in the Kovači Cemetery, Sarajevo.
See also
editNotes
editReferences
edit- 1 2 3 Beljo, Mijo (1 April 2022). "The Causes, Flow, and Consequences of Operation 'Trebević 2'". Časopis za suvremenu povijest (in Croatian). 54 (1): 7–26. doi:10.22586/csp.v54i1.18979. ISSN 0590-9597.
- ↑ "Prosecutor v. Sefer Halilovic". icty.org. 16 November 2005.
- ↑ "Judgement in the Case the Prosecutor v. Sefer Halilovic". icty.org. 17 November 2005.
- ↑ Merrill, Christopher (2001). Only the Nails Remain: Scenes from the Balkan Wars. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 285. ISBN 978-0-74251-686-1.
- ↑ Magas, Branka; Zanic, Ivo (2013). The War in Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina 1991-1995. Routledge. p. 191. ISBN 978-1-13634-092-5.
- ↑ "Media Round-Up, 8/12/2004". ohr.int. Office of the High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina. 8 December 2004.
- ↑ "Ramiz Delalić Ćelo ubijen u dvorištu kuće u Sarajevu". Jutarnji list (in Croatian). 28 June 2007. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
- ↑ "Detalji o ubistvu Delalića: Buha spojio ubice i Keljmendija". vijesti.me (in Serbian). Vijesti. 6 September 2014.
- ↑ Jukic, Elvira M.; Peci, Edona (6 May 2013). "Kosovo Arrests Kelmendi on Drugs Charges". Balkan Insight. Retrieved 12 November 2019.