Ratko Mladic, the former Bosnian Serb army general convicted of genocide and crimes against humanity, was buried with military honors in Belgrade, drawing high-profile mourners and immediate international condemnation. According to regional reports, the burial at Topcider Cemetery followed a religious service at the Church of Saint Luke, drawing thousands of citizens and multiple government ministers.
Military Honors and Funeral Proceedings in Belgrade
Ratko Mladic was laid to rest in a grave next to his daughter Ana, who died by suicide in 1994 during the height of the Bosnian War, according to accounts from regional outlets. Following the church service, members of the Serbian military draped the casket with the flags of Serbia and Republika Srpska—one of the two autonomous entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina—while transporting it toward the cemetery. Motorcyclists from the police force escorted the procession as crowds applauded along the route.
At the cemetery, a military band and honor guard participated in the ceremony, and a Serbian army unit fired a volley of small-arms salutes. Serbian state broadcaster RTS reported that while President Aleksandar Vucic did not attend, his son Danilo was present alongside several high-ranking officials. The funeral attendees included Defense Minister Bratislav Gasic, Justice Minister Nenad Vujic, former Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik, Russian Ambassador to Serbia Alexander Botsan-Kharchenko, and former Greek Defense Minister Panos Kammenos.
“Thank you, brothers, for coming to judge whether my father was a hero or a criminal,” Darko Mladic told the gathered crowd during the service, prompting chants of “Hero!” from attendees.
International Repercussions and Diplomatic Fallout
The decision to grant military honors and the public glorification surrounding the event prompted sharp rebukes from international officials and organizations. European Union diplomatic representatives issued statements emphasizing that honoring convicted war criminals contradicts core European values and has no place among candidate countries seeking EU accession. In protest of the initial plans for state-level honors, European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos canceled an official visit to Belgrade.
Regional bodies also intervened regarding domestic coverage. The OSCE mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina cautioned public broadcasters against amplifying the glorification of war criminals, urging reviews under local criminal codes. Meanwhile, the Mothers of Srebrenica association in Sarajevo condemned demonstrations of support after fans at a Belgrade football derby between Red Star and Partizan observed a moment of silence and displayed a banner featuring Mladic’s likeness alongside references to the 1995 massacre.
Legal History and Accountability Timeline
Mladic died in late August at the age of 83 in a prison hospital in The Hague while serving a life sentence. He had spent 16 years as a fugitive before his arrest in Serbia in 2011, after which he was transferred to the custody of the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY).
In 2017, the UN tribunal convicted Mladic of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity, specifically citing his role in the 1995 Srebrenica genocide where 8,000 Muslim men were killed, as well as the siege of Sarajevo. An appeals chamber confirmed the life sentence in 2021. Prior to his death, Mladic had received medical treatment in detention following multiple strokes.
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