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War criminal Mladic to be buried in Belgrade
World🏛️ PoliticsLean Progressive9/7/2026

War criminal Mladic to be buried in Belgrade

The controversial funeral ceremonies for the deceased war criminal Ratko Mladic began early today in Belgrade, Serbia. A long line of people gathered at St. Luke's Church to pay their respects, with many kissing his open casket while Orthodox priests offered prayers. Justice Minister Nenad Vujic announced that Mladic would receive all state honors during the mourning ceremony. Mladic died on August 27 in a hospital in The Hague, Netherlands, where he was serving a life sentence for genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity committed during the Bosnian War from 1992 to 1995. His name is closely associated with the Srebrenica genocide in July 1995, where Bosnian Serb forces under his command attacked a UN-protected zone and killed approximately 8,000 Muslim men and boys. In protest against the 'glorification' of Mladic in Serbia, EU enlargement commissioner Marta Kos canceled a visit to the EU candidate country.

Thousands of Serbs gathered in Belgrade on September 7, 2026, for the funeral of Ratko Mladic, the former Bosnian Serb military commander who was convicted of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity during the 1992–1995 Bosnian War. Mladic died in late August at the age of 84 while serving a life sentence at the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in The Hague. His body was transported back to Serbia earlier this month and placed in a military plane accompanied by six soldiers and draped in national flags before being taken to the St. Luka Church in Belgrade for the funeral. The event took place despite criticism from the European Union, which condemned what it described as the “glorification” of Mladic. EU enlargement commissioner Marta Kos canceled a planned visit to Serbia, stating that the “glorification surrounding his death is incompatible with the values on which the EU path is built.” Mladic’s name is closely associated with the Srebrenica massacre in July 1995, where Bosnian Serb forces under his command stormed a UN-protected zone and killed approximately 8,000 Muslim men and boys. At the funeral, mourners lined up early in the morning, with many kissing Mladic’s closed coffin as Serbian Orthodox priests conducted prayers. Some attendees wore clothing featuring Mladic’s image, and banners praised him as a national hero. A large banner displayed near the church read: “Welcome, General, thanks be to your mother for bearing a hero, so that Serbdom's glory may return.” Police closed off parts of the city to manage the crowd, and footage showed groups of young men holding signs honoring the former general as his coffin was transported through the streets. The government declared the funeral a private affair, yet several high-ranking officials attended, including Justice Minister Nenad Vujic, who previously belonged to an ultranationalist party linked to another war criminal. President Aleksandar Vucic did not attend the funeral, citing prior commitments to meet with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. Mladic’s conviction for genocide was confirmed in 2021 after years of legal proceedings. He was the military leader of the Bosnian Serb forces during the war, alongside former Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic and Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic. The conflict resulted in approximately 100,000 deaths and displaced 2.2 million people. Reactions to the funeral varied widely. While many Serbs viewed Mladic as a symbol of resistance, others criticized the state for its perceived honorific treatment of a war criminal. The Belgrade-based Youth Initiative for Human Rights counted more than 250 graffiti and portraits of Mladic across the country, though a survey from three years ago suggested that a majority of young Serbs did not regard him as a hero. Meanwhile, Red Star Belgrade fans honored Mladic with a tifo display during a match against Partizan, further highlighting the divisive nature of his legacy. Despite international condemnation, the funeral proceeded with state honors, underscoring the complex relationship between Serbia and its historical figures.

How this report was made. Objective News wrote this report from 3 source articles, using AI-assisted synthesis under our methodology. It is our own text, not a copy of any single outlet. Read our methodology.

Responsible editor: Matej BašaSpotted an error? Report it

4 reports

ORF News logoORF NewsState / PublicCenterFactual 95Objective 859/7/2026
War criminal Mladic to be buried in Belgrade

The controversial funeral ceremonies for the deceased war criminal Ratko Mladic began early today in Belgrade, Serbia. A long line of people gathered at St. Luke's Church to pay their respects, with many kissing his open casket while Orthodox priests offered prayers. Justice Minister Nenad Vujic announced that Mladic would receive all state honors during the mourning ceremony. Mladic died on August 27 in a hospital in The Hague, Netherlands, where he was serving a life sentence for genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity committed during the Bosnian War from 1992 to 1995. His name is closely associated with the Srebrenica genocide in July 1995, where Bosnian Serb forces under his command attacked a UN-protected zone and killed approximately 8,000 Muslim men and boys. In protest against the 'glorification' of Mladic in Serbia, EU enlargement commissioner Marta Kos canceled a visit to the EU candidate country.

Bias read (Center): The article presents factual information about the funeral of a convicted war criminal and includes perspectives from both Serbian authorities and the EU. It does not exhibit clear bias through loaded language, one-sided sourcing, or omission of context. The framing remains neutral, focusing on the

Why factuality (95): The German-language article provides detailed and accurate information about Mladic's funeral, his death in The Hague, his convictions, and his role in the Srebrenica massacre. It includes quotes from officials and references to international reactions, such as the EU commissioner's withdrawal. The

Why objectivity (85): The article maintains a neutral tone, presenting facts without overt emotional bias. While it mentions the EU commissioner's protest, it does so as a factual statement rather than a value judgment, preserving objectivity.

Al Jazeera English logoAl Jazeera EnglishState / PublicCenterFactual: no official source document/info detectedObjective 809/7/2026
Serbia holds funeral for convicted war criminal Ratko Mladic

Serbia held a funeral for Ratko Mladic, a convicted war criminal who was found guilty of genocide against Bosniak Muslims during the 1990s. The ceremony took place in Serbia's capital with state honors and was attended by thousands of people. Mladic had been serving a life sentence at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague. His death and the state-sponsored funeral have drawn significant attention due to his role in wartime atrocities.

Bias read (Center): The article presents factual information about the funeral of a high-profile individual with a controversial legal history. It does not exhibit overtly biased language, one-sided sourcing, or editorializing. The event itself is politically sensitive but the report remains neutral in tone and framing

Why factuality: no official source document/info detected

Why objectivity (80): The language remains neutral, focusing on factual descriptions without overt emotional charge. While it refers to him as a 'convicted war criminal,' this is a standard descriptor based on his legal status rather than personal opinion.

Al Jazeera English logoAl Jazeera EnglishState / PublicCenterFactual: no official source document/info detectedObjective 759/7/2026
Serbia’s Red Star Belgrade honour Ratko Mladic with tifo

At a recent Belgrade derby match between Red Star Belgrade and Partizan, fans displayed a tifo honoring Ratko Mladic, a former Bosnian Serb military leader who was convicted of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes by the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia. Mladic, known as the 'butcher of Bosnia,' was serving a life sentence in a Dutch prison at the time of his death. The tribute sparked controversy due to Mladic's role in the Srebrenica massacre and other atrocities during the Yugoslav Wars. The event highlights ongoing tensions over historical memory and accountability in the Balkans.

Bias read (Center): The article presents a factual account of the event without overtly favoring any perspective. It mentions the controversial nature of Mladic's legacy but does not take a stance on whether honoring him is appropriate or inappropriate. The framing remains neutral, focusing on the event itself rather 1

Why factuality: no official source document/info detected

Why objectivity (75): While the content is largely factual, the article frames Mladic as a figure worthy of honor through the tifo, which may imply a level of respect or admiration. This subtle framing could be seen as slightly biased toward Serbian national sentiment.

The New York Times (World) logoThe New York Times (World)Independent🔒ProgressiveFactual: no official source document/info detectedObjective 609/7/2026
Thousands of Serbs Gather to Mourn Ratko Mladic, the ‘Butcher of Bosnia’

Thousands of Serbs gathered to mourn Ratko Mladic, a former Bosnian Serb military leader known as the 'Butcher of Bosnia' due to his role in wartime atrocities during the 1990s. Despite the government claiming the funeral was a private event, several government ministers attended, and state-controlled media gave extensive coverage and praise to Mladic, who had been convicted of war crimes by the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia.

Bias read (Progressive): The article highlights the contrast between the government's claim that the funeral was private and the reality of high-level government involvement, including attendance by ministers and state media's positive portrayal of a convicted war criminal. This framing emphasizes criticism of the Serbian政府

Why factuality: no official source document/info detected

Why objectivity (60): The tone is somewhat critical, referring to Mladic as the 'Butcher of Bosnia' and highlighting the contradiction between the government's claim of privacy and the reality of public celebration. This suggests a degree of editorializing rather than purely factual reporting.

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