Jovan Avakumović (Belgrade, 1 January 1841 – Rogaska Slatina, 3 August 1928) was a lawyer, politician, and Prime Minister of Serbia.
Born as a descendant of a respected merchant family of Babadudić, Avakumović graduated from the University of Belgrade Faculty of Law, and studied law and state science (1862–1868) in Germany, French and Switzerland. Member of the Liberal Party.
In 1873 he was appointed the First Secretary of Cassation, and since 1875 he was the first mayor of the Belgrade City, then head of the police department of the Ministry of the Interior in the Liberal government of Stevča Mihailović to 1880. That year he briefly became justice minister in the cabinet of Jovan Ristic, but already in October the same year, the government fell and he was replaced by the Progressive Milan Piroćanac. In 1881–1887 he was a judge in the Court of Cassation. In 1887 he was briefly Minister of Justice in Liberal-Radikal coalition government, but resigned from the end of the year when the radicals have formed a cabinet. Avakumović became operational head of the Liberal party and the opposition leader. Liberals then tried to use strong demagoguery to oppose the ruling Radicals.
When on 9 August 1892 the Radical fell Avakumović became the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs. The government was dominated by young liberals. All government actions were aimed at the parliamentary elections scheduled for 25 February 1893. year. After fierce fighting, in which the government used dubious methods, the result was a draw, and on 1 April 1893 Aleksandar Obrenovic dismissed the Avakumović government and gave the mandate to Radicals. The Radical majority in the Assembly organized a political trial of Avakumović and some members of his government but they were granted an amnesty by the king before the verdict.
Avakumović became Prime Minister again immediately after the assassination of King Aleksandar Obrenovic and Queen Draga Masin on 29 May 1903. Peter Karadjordjevic became the Serbian king and the Constitution of 1888 was restored.
During First World War the Austrian occupation forces captured him in 1915 and interned him in the camp Cegled in Hungary and then Hicing in Austria where he stayed until the end of the war. After returning from the captivity he withdrew from politics.
Avakumović was one of the best attorney attorney in Belgrade, especially in the field of criminal law. He has written many papers, and his most important works are: The theory of criminal law(1887–1891), self-defense,Importance of criminal law,France and England juries,Change the currency and illegal operations. Avakumović became a regular member of the Serbian Royal Academy in 1893.
He was a nephew of General and Royal Regent Jovan Belimarković.