Niko Bellic is the protagonist of Grand Theft Auto 4, meaning players spend many hours with him throughout their exploration of Liberty City and work with the Russian mafia. But where did Niko come from? What happened to him before the events of GTA 4, and how did he end up in Liberty City?
By the time GTA 4 players see Niko arrive in Liberty City, he already has a tragic backstory. His past plays a role in how he sees the world and makes decisions, and players can learn about Niko's origins through bits of dialogue in the game, as well as his relationships with other characters, like his cousin, Roman.
Niko hails from Yugoslavia (which is now Serbia) and was born in the late 1970s. According to the Fandom GTA Wiki, Niko's unnamed father is implied to be an abusive alcoholic, and his mother, Milica Bellic, regretted her son's rough upbringing but was unable to prevent it. His family was also poor, and the house he grew up in didn't have electricity until he was 12 years old.
GTA 4 Protagonist Niko Bellic's Backstory Explained
As a teenager, Niko joined the military. Although which military Niko joined is never specified, it's implied to either be the Yugoslav People's Army or some other paramilitary branch aligned with the Serbs, according to the GTA Wiki. During the war, he served mainly as an infantryman, but in some missions in GTA 4, he also mentions experience flying helicopters and driving a tank.
Niko's role in the Bosnian Wars is, arguably, the most important part of his GTA 4 backstory. Throughout the wars, Niko witnessed a variety of atrocities, which hardened his perspective. Combined with his difficult childhood and abusive father, it all led to the cynical viewpoint players see in GTA 4, especially because Niko is one of only three survivors from his unit after an ambush. Even worse, Niko suspected one of the other two men, Darko Brevic and Florian Cravic, had sold the unit out, causing the deaths of the other 12 infantrymen.
After the war, Niko struggled to find work and became involved in criminal dealings in Europe, even serving some time in prison. Upon his release, he partnered with Ray Bulgarin, working for his human trafficking ring until one of their boats sank. Bulgarin accused Niko of intentionally messing up the job, causing Niko to join the commercial naval industry to escape his wrath. Eventually, Niko smuggled himself to the United States aboard a cargo ship, wishing to reunite with his cousin and pursue the American Dream, all of which brought him to the beginning of Grand Theft Auto 4.
Source: Fandom GTA Wiki