Milosevic Chronology

Aug. 20, 1941

Born in Pozarevac, Serbia.

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1959

Joins the Communist Party.

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1964

Graduates from the University of Belgrade with a law degree.

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1987

Appointed head of the Serbian Communist Party. In April, delivers an inflammatory speech in Kosovo to Serbs demanding protection from the ethnic Albanian majority in the province. The speech catapults Milosevic to prominence.

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1989

Kosovo is stripped of its autonomy. On June 28, in a rousing speech before 1 million people, Milosevic encourages Serbs to take up arms in their own defense. In November, Milosevic is elected president of the republic of Serbia.

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1990

Yugoslavia sends in troops to impose control over Kosovo. Serbia dissolves Kosovo’s government. Milosevic is reelected president in the republic’s first multi-party elections.

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1991

The republics of Croatia and Slovenia declare independence from Yugoslavia. Slovenia is allowed to secede after a brief war, but a six-month conflict leaves thousands dead in Croatia.

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1992

A U.N.-policed cease-fire in Croatia takes effect in January. In March, Bosnia-Herzegovina declares its independence.

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1995

Milosevic agrees to settlement of the Bosnian war at U.S.-sponsored peace talks in Dayton, Ohio. NATO authorizes deploying 60,000 troops.

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November-December 1996 Crowds of 250,000 hold nightly rallies in Belgrade to protest irregularities in local elections.

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July 1997

Prevented by the constitution from seeking reelection, Milosevic has parliament name him president of Yugoslavia.

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February 1998

Milosevic sends troops to crush a new ethnic Albanian uprising in Kosovo.

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March 1999

NATO airstrikes begin in Yugoslavia.

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May 1999

Milosevic and four subordinates are indicted by a U.N. war crimes tribunal.

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June 1999

Yugoslavia’s government accepts a plan for U.N. administration of Kosovo, policed by a NATO-led force.

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Sept. 24, 2000

Yugoslavs vote directly for president for the first time. Supporters of Milosevic challenger Vojislav Kostunica declare victory, but the election commission says a runoff is needed. Massive protests and strikes result.

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Oct. 5, 2000

Milosevic is ousted after mobs rampage through Belgrade, driving security forces from the streets and seizing parliament.

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April 1, 2001

Milosevic is arrested in his villa after a standoff with police.

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June 28, 2001

Milosevic is handed over to the custody of the U.N. war crimes tribunal in The Hague.