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Bosnian War
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Thousands attend funeral of Ratko Mladic in Serbia
Thousands of people gathered in Serbia for the funeral of Ratko Mladic, who was a convicted war criminal. Mladic was previously convicted of genocide against Bosniak Muslims during the 1990s Bosnian war. While international entities label him a war criminal, he remained a figure hailed as a hero by many Serbs. Al Jazeera’s Natasa Kovacev reported on the event from Belgrade on September 7, 2026.
Serbian government declines to organize state funeral for Ratko Mladić
Following the death of convicted war criminal Ratko Mladić in a UN prison in The Hague, the Serbian government declined to organize a state funeral for him. Mladić, who had been convicted of crimes including the genocide in Srebrenica, was requested by his family to be buried in Belgrade alongside his daughter. The decision by authorities highlighted the deep societal divisions in the Balkans, where Mladić is viewed by some as a hero and by others as a war criminal.
Supporters attend funeral of convicted war criminal Ratko Mladić in Serbia
Thousands of supporters attended the funeral of Ratko Mladić in Belgrade, following the 84-year-old former general's death while serving a life sentence for genocide and war crimes. Mladić, known as the 'Butcher of Bosnia,' was convicted for his role in the 1995 Srebrenica massacre, where approximately 8,000 Bosniak men and boys were killed, and the siege of Sarajevo, which resulted in over 10,000 deaths. Although the European Union denounced the glorification of Mladić, the service was led by the head of the Serbian Orthodox Church, and several Serbian government ministers were present among the crowds.
AfD Wins Regional Election in Germany; Mladić Funeral Held in Serbia
The far-right AfD party secured a regional election victory in Saxony-Anhalt, prompting discussions regarding the implications for Germany and Europe involving Member of Parliament Günter Krings. Simultaneously, the burial of convicted war criminal Ratko Mladić occurred in Belgrade despite prior warnings from the European Union against his glorification. In other developments, US peace envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner held talks with Ukrainian President Volodymir Zelenskyy, though no public breakthroughs were announced regarding the ongoing war. These events were covered by Euronews, which also featured an interview with European Commissioner for Agriculture Christophe Hansen.
Red Star Belgrade fans display banner honoring Ratko Mladic
Red Star Belgrade fans displayed a banner honoring Ratko Mladic during a match against Partizan. This event occurred at the Belgrade derby in Belgrade, Serbia.
Ratko Mladić commemorated in Belgrade without state honours
A commemoration for the late convicted war criminal Ratko Mladić was held at the House of the Serbian Army in Belgrade following his death while serving a life sentence for genocide and crimes against humanity. Although the Serbian government facilitated the transport of his remains, officials confirmed that the burial and associated events would proceed without state or military honours, and with no serving government officials in attendance. Mladić, who led the Bosnian Serb army during the 1992-1995 war, was responsible for the Srebrenica massacre and the siege of Sarajevo, events which resulted in over 100,000 deaths. The proceedings occur amid mounting European pressure regarding the glorification of war criminals, while domestic authorities braced for the arrival of thousands of mourners.
EU Commissioner Kos cancels Serbia visit following arrival of Mladic's body
EU enlargement chief Marta Kos cancelled a scheduled trip to Belgrade on September 4 after the Serbian government transported the body of convicted war criminal Ratko Mladic to the country for a funeral. Mladic, who died at age 84 in a U.N. detention facility in The Hague, was convicted of genocide and war crimes committed during the 1992-95 Bosnian war. Kos stated that the glorification surrounding the death was incompatible with EU values regarding reconciliation and confronting the past. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic criticized the cancellation, while the government remained silent on whether the event would constitute an official state funeral.
Serbian government leaves Ratko Mladic funeral decisions to family
The remains of Ratko Mladic, the former Bosnian Serb army commander who died serving a life sentence in The Hague for genocide and war crimes, arrived in Serbia and were moved to the Military Medical Academy for an autopsy. While Justice Minister Nenad Vujic previously suggested the funeral would feature full state honors, President Aleksandar Vucic announced that the government would leave final decisions to the family while providing logistical and security support. The event triggered public displays of support, with citizens gathering to greet the motorcade and display banners labeling Mladic a hero. The glorification of Mladic, who was convicted for his role in the 1992–95 Bosnian War, including the Srebrenica genocide of more than 8,000 Muslim men and boys, remains a point of tension with the international community.
EU warns Serbia regarding Ratko Mladić funeral's impact on membership bid
Following the return of convicted war criminal Ratko Mladić’s remains to Belgrade on a government plane, senior EU officials warned that the handling of his funeral serves as a critical test for Serbia’s EU membership bid. European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos canceled a planned visit to Serbia, stating that the glorification of Mladić is incompatible with EU values, while European ministers explicitly characterized a state-level funeral or official memorialization as unacceptable. Mladić died in a UN detention facility on 27 August at age 84 while serving a life sentence for genocide and crimes against humanity, and reports of a potential commemoration ceremony have drawn condemnation from officials including Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković.
Body of Ratko Mladic to be flown to Serbia
The body of former Bosnian Serb army commander Ratko Mladic, who died while serving a life sentence for genocide and war crimes, was scheduled to be flown to Serbia on Thursday following his release by the U.N. court in The Hague. President Aleksandar Vucic stated that the Serbian government is preparing for potential crowds of tens of thousands, as many Serbs continue to view Mladic as a hero despite his conviction for the 1995 Srebrenica massacre and the siege of Sarajevo. The repatriation has drawn criticism from victims' families and exacerbated regional tensions, as Vucic publicly accused the Western-backed tribunal of bias against Serbs.
Bosnian Serb and Serbian leaders continue to deny the Bosnian genocide
Leaders in Serbia and the Bosnian Serb Republic, including President Aleksandar Vucic and Milorad Dodik, continued to deny the 1995 Srebrenica massacre, where up to 8,000 Muslim men and boys were killed. Despite the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia convicting military leader Radko Mladic and Radovan Karadzic of genocide, official efforts were made to honor Mladic and promote reports characterizing the genocide as a fabricated myth. This denial persists despite data estimating a total of 89,186 deaths during the conflict, including 57,922 Bosnian Muslims. The situation remains significant because, as historical precedent suggests, the denial of past atrocities increases the likelihood that such tragedies will occur again.
The impact of Ratko Mladic's death on Bosnian and Serbian relations
On August 27, 2026, Ratko Mladic, the former commander of the Bosnian Serb army convicted of genocide and crimes against humanity, died in a prison hospital in The Hague. While international courts maintained his status as a war criminal, officials in Republika Srpska and Serbia officially mourned his death, with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and other officials honoring him as a national hero. Conversely, officials in the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina condemned the deceased, noting that his death failed to reconcile the disparate narratives regarding his role in the 1992-95 Bosnian war, including the 1995 Srebrenica massacre where approximately 8,000 men and boys were killed.
Bosnian Serbs gather for tribute to Ratko Mladić
Hundreds of Bosnian Serbs gathered to pay tribute to former Bosnian Serb commander Ratko Mladić. The event took place in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Srebrenica survivor Ahmed Hrustanovic reflects on Ratko Mladic's death
Ahmed Hrustanovic reflected on the death of Ratko Mladic during an interview with Scott Simon of NPR. Hrustanovic, a survivor of the Srebrenica Massacre, noted that all of his adult male relatives died in the event engineered by Mladic.
Serbian President Vucic Criticizes UN War Crimes Court Over Mladic Death
Former Bosnian Serb army commander Ratko Mladic, who was serving a life sentence for genocide and war crimes, died at age 83 in a U.N. detention facility in The Hague. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic criticized the U.N. war crimes court for denying Mladic’s previous request to return to Serbia to die, labeling the court's actions as "uncivilised." While survivors of the Srebrenica massacre expressed that Mladic should have remained in prison, Vucic stated that Serbian authorities were prepared to arrange a burial for the general in Belgrade if requested by his family. A judge has opened an inquiry into the circumstances of the death, while Serbian officials awaited information regarding the return of the body.
Serbian government to provide state honors for funeral of Ratko Mladic
Serbian Justice Minister Nenad Vujic announced that Ratko Mladic, the former Bosnian Serb military leader convicted of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity, would receive full military and state honors upon his death. Mladic died on Thursday while serving a life sentence in The Hague for his role in the 1992-1995 Bosnian war, which resulted in approximately 100,000 deaths and the displacement of 2.2 million people. Vujic stated that Serbian officials were prepared to travel to The Hague to retrieve the body once authorities there released it. Mladic was known as the "Butcher of Bosnia" and was responsible for actions including the Srebrenica massacre, considered Europe's worst act of bloodshed since World War II.
Public reaction in Bosnia following the death of Ratko Mladic
Following the death of convicted Bosnian Serb war criminal Ratko Mladic, citizens across Bosnia responded to the passing of the man labeled the ‘butcher of Bosnia.’ Mladic had been sentenced to life imprisonment for genocide and crimes against humanity committed during the 1992–1995 Bosnian War. Public reaction included sentiments that even his own family should not mourn him.
BBC correspondent Allan Little recalls meeting Ratko Mladić during Bosnian War
Bosnian Serb commander Ratko Mladić, responsible for war crimes and genocide during the Bosnian War, has died in prison. BBC correspondent Allan Little, who encountered Mladić at the Lukavica barracks in the summer of 1992, reported that Mladić exhibited fanatical behavior while claiming to defend brotherhood and unity. The conflict, characterized by ethnic cleansing and the loss of 25-year-old cameraman Tihomir Tunukovic, saw the systematic displacement of thousands, including an elderly musician who represented the civilian toll beyond ethnic categories.
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