Mladic's death, Bosnia and Serbia's unfinished reckoning

Live updates

1. 8d ago

   Serbia defies EU warnings as Ratko Mladic lies in state

   Ratko Mladic's body lay in state in Belgrade on Monday as the Serbian government prepared a funeral with highest military and state honors. This decision prompted European Union Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos to cancel her visit to Serbia. Survivors in Bosnia and Herzegovina have condemned the planned glorification of the former Bosnian Serb army chief, who died in custody on August 27 while serving a life sentence for genocide and war crimes. Serbia continues to ignore EU warnings against allowing public homage to the convicted war criminal.

   Why it matters

   Mladic was convicted in 2017 by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. He led the Bosnian Serb army during the Balkan wars of the early 1990s. His case represented the first instance of genocide in Europe since World War II.

   What is confirmed

   • Ratko Mladic died in custody in The Hague on August 27.
   • Mladic was convicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in 2017 for genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.
   • Serbian officials received Mladic's body in Belgrade on September 3.
   • The body of Ratko Mladic lay in state on Monday, September 7.
   • Serbia plans to bury Mladic with highest military and state honors.
   • EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos canceled a visit to Serbia.

   What to watch next

   • The official funeral ceremony and the scale of public attendance.
   • Further diplomatic responses or sanctions from the European Union.
   Sources used for this update (4)

   1. apnews.com — Serbia faces EU scrutiny over upcoming funeral of convicted war criminal Ratko Mladic
   2. www.hrw.org — Serbia’s Genocide Denial in Bosnia and Herzegovina
   3. apnews.com — Body of war criminal Mladic lies in state in Serbian capital ahead of funeral
   4. www.cnn.com — War criminal Ratko Mladić to receive full military honors in funeral as crowds gather
   confidence 100%
2. 12d ago

   Convicted Bosnian Serb General Ratko Mladic Dies

   Ratko Mladic, the former Bosnian Serb commander convicted of genocide, has died. Serbia intends to bury the man known as the Butcher of Bosnia with highest honors, prompting the European Union to urge the government against such a ceremony. While victims condemn the glorification of the war criminal, the Serbian president criticized the UN court for not allowing Mladic to die at home. The death has reignited tensions over the unfinished reckoning with war crimes in Serbia and Bosnia.

   Why it matters

   Mladic led Bosnian Serb forces during the 1990s conflict. A UN court found him guilty of genocide and other war crimes.

   What is confirmed

   • Ratko Mladic was a Bosnian Serb general convicted of genocide.
   • Mladic was referred to as the Butcher of Bosnia.
   • Serbia stated that Mladic will be buried with highest honors.

   Still unconfirmed

   • Mladic died at age 83.
   • Mladic died at age 84.
   • The EU urged Serbia not to give Mladic an honors burial.
   • The Serbian president criticized the UN court for not releasing Mladic to die at home.

   What to watch next

   • Official confirmation of Mladic's age at death
   • The final decision by Serbia regarding the burial honors
   • Formal responses from the UN court to the Serbian president's criticism
   Sources used for this update (13)

   1. The New York Times — Ratko Mladic, Murderous ‘Butcher of Bosnia,’ Dies at 83
   2. Reuters — Ratko Mladic, former general convicted of Bosnia genocide, dies
   3. CNN — Ratko Mladić, Bosnian-Serb general dubbed, the ‘Butcher of Bosnia,’ dies aged 84
   4. The Washington Post — Ratko Mladic, Bosnian Serb commander found guilty of genocide, dies at 84
   5. CNN — Serbia says convicted war criminal Mladić to be buried with ‘highest honors’
   6. AP News — Serbia’s president criticizes UN court for not releasing war criminal Mladic to die at home
   7. The Guardian — ‘The butcher may be gone, but to many he is a hero’: victims condemn glorification of Mladić
   8. Al Jazeera — Mladic died a happy man. He won
   9. dw.com — Mladic's death, Bosnia and Serbia's unfinished reckoning
   10. Jewish Telegraphic Agency — Ratko Mladić committed genocide. His death reminds me why I reject the charge against Israel.
   11. Bloomberg.com — EU Urges Serbia to Not Give Honors Burial to War Criminal Mladic
   12. Council on Foreign Relations — Mladic and the Genocide That Wasn’t
   confidence 90%