The short version
- The funeral of Ratko Mladić in Belgrade drew thousands of mourners, including government ministers and military veterans, despite his conviction for genocide by a UN tribunal.
- European Union officials condemned the event as incompatible with European values, with the enlargement commissioner canceling a planned trip to Serbia.
- The ceremony highlights deep divisions between Serbian nationalist narratives that view Mladić as a hero and international legal findings regarding his role in the Bosnian war.
Thousands of people gathered in Belgrade this week for the funeral of Ratko Mladić, the former Bosnian Serb military commander convicted of genocide and crimes against humanity. The event has drawn sharp criticism from European Union leaders, who argue that the glorification of a war criminal undermines Serbia’s path toward EU membership. While Serbian officials initially considered a state funeral, plans were scaled back following objections from European partners, yet the ceremony retained significant military pomp and political attendance.
Mladić died at age 84 in late August while serving a life sentence in a United Nations prison in The Hague. He was found guilty by an international tribunal for his central role in the 1995 Srebrenica massacre, where approximately 8,000 Bosniak Muslim men and boys were killed. The tribunal described this event as Europe’s worst atrocity since World War II. His remains were transported to Serbia on a government aircraft and carried from the plane by uniformed soldiers, draped in national flags.
The funeral service took place at St. Luka church in Belgrade, where long queues formed early in the day. Inside, Mladić’s coffin was guarded by war veterans, with his military hat and sword placed on top alongside a display of medals. Outside, crowds waved Serbian flags and banners praising him as a hero. Several high-ranking government officials, including the Defense Minister and Justice Minister, attended the service, signaling official tolerance or endorsement of the public mourning.
The European Union responded swiftly to the scenes in Belgrade. Marta Kos, the EU enlargement commissioner, canceled a scheduled visit to Serbia, stating that the glorification surrounding Mladić’s death is incompatible with the values underpinning the EU accession process. An EU spokesperson emphasized that genocide denial and revisionism have no place in candidate countries. These statements reflect growing concern in Brussels about Serbia’s willingness to confront its wartime past.
Serbia has been an EU candidate since 2012, but negotiations have stalled in recent years under President Aleksandar Vučić. The funeral underscores the tension between Belgrade’s diplomatic ambitions and domestic nationalist sentiment. Many Serbs, particularly in the Republika Srpska entity of Bosnia, view Mladić as a defender of their nation rather than a criminal. This perception persists despite detailed historical records from the war crimes tribunal documenting his forces’ actions.
During the 1992-1995 Bosnian War, Mladić commanded forces that besieged Sarajevo for nearly four years, resulting in more than 10,000 deaths. His troops also carried out ethnic cleansing campaigns aimed at expelling non-Serb populations to create a Greater Serbia. The Srebrenica killings occurred after UN-designated safe zones failed to protect civilians, marking a significant international failure. Mladić was arrested in 2011 after sixteen years as a fugitive and sentenced to life imprisonment in 2017.
For survivors of the conflict, the funeral has reopened old wounds. Zdravka Gvozdjar, whose son was killed during the siege of Sarajevo, expressed horror at the public celebration of Mladić. She argued that he should be erased from memory rather than promoted as a hero. Experts note that post-conflict societies often struggle with national reckoning, and in Serbia, media and education systems have not fully reflected the scale of crimes or the perspectives of victims.
The event also featured displays of support from football fans, with Red Star Belgrade supporters unveiling a banner depicting Mladić during a match. This intersection of sports culture and political nationalism illustrates how deeply entrenched these narratives remain in Serbian society. As Serbia continues its EU accession talks, the handling of figures like Mladić will likely remain a critical test of its commitment to reconciliation and rule of law.
Looking ahead, the international community will monitor whether this funeral marks a turning point in Serbia’s relationship with European institutions. The EU has made clear that confronting the past is non-negotiable for membership. Meanwhile, within Serbia, the divide between those who see Mladić as a martyr and those who view him as a criminal remains wide. The outcome of these tensions could shape not only Serbia’s future but also regional stability in the Balkans.
Sources behind this briefing
Go to the original reporting
- BBC News↗Thousands turn out in Serbia for funeral of 'Butcher of Bosnia' Ratko Mladić
- The Guardian US↗Ratko Mladić, the ‘Butcher of Bosnia’, given hero’s funeral in Serbia
