From our reporter: The last parade of the condemned Bosnian butcher Mladic
The body of General Ratko Mladić, who was convicted by the Hague tribunal for multiple crimes against humanity and war crimes during the three-year war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, lay in St. Luke's Church on Monday morning. Long lines of people gathered at the church, where Orthodox liturgies were played on screens accompanying the farewell ceremony. Estimates suggest around ten thousand people attended the event, though the exact number is difficult to determine due to the continuous flow of attendees throughout the day. The funeral took place amid divided opinions regarding Mladić's role in the war. Some veterans praised him as a hero who defended his nation, while others acknowledged the Srebrenica massacre but viewed Mladić's actions as acts of mercy, such as separating women and children from men. Attendees expressed pride in Mladić's leadership and highlighted both the atrocities he committed and the lives he saved.
Ratko Mladić, known as the “Butcher of Bosnia,” received a hero’s funeral in Serbia despite being convicted of orchestrating some of the worst atrocities of the Bosnian war. The funeral took place in Belgrade on September 7, 2026, drawing thousands of mourners, including military personnel and political figures. Mladić, who died in prison in late August at age 84, was serving a life sentence for war crimes and crimes against humanity. His remains were flown to Serbia on a government plane, draped in national flags, and carried by uniformed soldiers. At the funeral, his coffin was adorned with his signature military hat and a sword, while a display of medals lay in front. The ceremony included a religious service at the small Serbian Orthodox Church of St. Luke in Belgrade, followed by a procession to the Topčider Cemetery, where Mladić will be buried alongside his daughter, Ana, who died by suicide in 1994. The event drew widespread attention, with Serbian flags hanging near the church and a large banner reading: “Welcome, General, thanks be to your mother for bearing a hero.” Thousands of people queued outside the church, some holding photographs of Mladić, others kissing his coffin and weeping as they passed. The funeral has sparked controversy, particularly with the European Union. Marta Kos, the EU’s enlargement commissioner, canceled an upcoming visit to Serbia, criticizing the glorification of Mladić’s legacy as incompatible with EU values. She called the event a reminder of Europe’s darkest historical moments and emphasized the need for reconciliation and respect for victims. Serbia, which has been seeking EU membership since 2014, faces ongoing tensions with the bloc over its stance on wartime actions and the recognition of genocide. President Aleksandar Vučić, a former nationalist leader, dismissed EU criticism, calling it “lies.” Vučić did not attend the funeral, citing an upcoming meeting with the Uzbekistan president. Instead, his son, Danilo, participated in the proceedings. Despite the international backlash, Mladić remains a revered figure among many Serbs, including veterans and politicians. His supporters have organized vigils, painted murals of him in Belgrade, and even displayed a massive banner at a football match. Mladić was a key architect of the ethnic cleansing campaign during the Bosnian war, which resulted in the deaths of over 100,000 people and the displacement of millions. His forces conducted the 1,460-day siege of Sarajevo, subjecting civilians to daily shelling and sniper attacks. The conflict culminated in the 1995 Srebrenica massacre, where at least 8,000 Bosniak Muslims were killed. Mladić’s forces were filmed distributing sweets to children and promising safe passage before rounding up and executing thousands of men and boys. He described the operation as a “gift” to the Serb people. Mladić was arrested in 2011 after evading capture for nearly 16 years. He was sentenced in 2017 for orchestrating the Srebrenica massacre, along with other war crimes such as establishing concentration camps and targeting non-Serb civilians. His trial highlighted the scale of his atrocities, though his defenders argue that he was acting in defense of his people. In Serbia, there is continued resistance to acknowledging the genocide, with some referring to the Srebrenica massacre as a “horrific crime” rather than a genocide. The funeral also drew protests from groups such as the Mothers of Srebrenica, who condemned the glorification of Mladić’s legacy. They accused Serbian nationalists of promoting a “chetnik ideology” and warned that such sentiments would not be tolerated in Srebrenica. The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) criticized the broadcast of Mladić’s funeral on Serbian state television, arguing that it promoted hate and denied the reality of the genocide. In addition to the funeral, Mladić’s legacy continues to influence Serbian society. Supporters celebrate his military achievements, while critics highlight the suffering he caused. The event underscores the deep divisions within Serbia regarding its wartime history and its relationship with the West. As the funeral concludes, Mladić’s legacy remains a contentious issue, reflecting broader debates about memory, justice, and reconciliation in the Balkans.
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Ratko Mladić, nekdanji general sil bosanskih Srbov in obsojenec za vojne zločine v Bosni in Hercegovini, je umrl v Haagu 27. avgusta 2026. Njegove posmrtne ostanke so odpeljale v Srbijo, kjer so bile pokopane popoldne 7. septembra 2026 na pokopališču Topčider v Beogradu. Pogreb je bil organiziran pod okrilom družine Mladića, saj je srbski predsednik Aleksandar Vučić ne bo prisoten, ker bo v istem času v gostovanju uzbekistanskega predsednika Šavkata Mirzijojeva. Pred pogrebom je v cerkvi svetega Luke v Vidikovcu potekla religiozna obrada, ki jo je vodil patrijarh Porfirije. Mladić je bil pravnomočno obsojen na dosmrtno kazen leta 2021 zaradi genocida v Srebrenici in drugih vojnih zločinov. Po svoji smrti so njegovi bliznji in odvetniki večkrat zahtevali njegovo predčasno izpustitev iz zaporu zaradi zdravstvenih težav, vendar so prošnje bile zavrneti.
Bias read (Center): The article provides a factual account of the burial of Radoslav Mladić, focusing on the logistics of the event, the involvement of religious figures, and the absence of high-profile political figures like President Vučić. It includes quotes from officials and mentions the legal background of his 20
Why factuality (98): This article provides precise details about the funeral arrangements, including the location at the Church of Saint Luke, the burial site at Topčider Cemetery, and the involvement of the Serbian Orthodox Church patriarch. It also mentions the absence of President Vučić due to an official visit and t
Why objectivity (60): The article presents the event from a Serbian nationalist viewpoint, referring to Mladić as a 'general of the Bosnian Serbs' and noting the criticism from regional observers. While it includes factual details, the tone leans toward supporting the narrative of honoring a war criminal rather than cond
The funeral of Ratko Mladić, a convicted war criminal responsible for the Srebrenica genocide and other crimes against humanity, took place in Belgrade. European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed shock at the footage of the funeral and criticized the presence of high-ranking Serbian officials, calling it a failure to confront Europe's dark history and contrary to Serbia's values as it seeks EU membership. They emphasized their solidarity with victims of crimes committed in the former Yugoslavia. The comments followed criticism from Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, who called for European leaders to publicly address the glorification of Mladić.
Bias read (Center): The article presents the reactions of two major European Union figures to the funeral of a notorious war criminal, emphasizing their concerns about Serbia's alignment with EU values. It does not take a clear ideological stance but reports on the controversy and official responses neutrally.
Why factuality (97): The article provides accurate information about the funeral, including the reactions of European leaders like António Costa and Ursula von der Leyen, who criticized the event. It correctly identifies Mladić as a convicted war criminal responsible for the Srebrenica genocide and other atrocities. The
Why objectivity (85): The article maintains a neutral and objective tone, presenting the views of European leaders without taking sides. It focuses on the international response to the funeral and emphasizes the need for accountability, avoiding emotional language or biased framing. This makes it one of the most balanced
The article discusses the funeral of Ratko Mladić, a Serbian general convicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia for his role in the Srebrenica genocide and other war crimes during the Bosnian War in the 1990s. Attendees at the funeral included many young people, some of whom had family members who fought in the conflict. Many expressed gratitude toward Mladić for defending their 'people,' despite his criminal convictions. The event highlighted ongoing nationalist sentiments among Serbs, with some attendees expressing support for reclaiming Kosovo and rejecting peace efforts. The atmosphere was marked by a mix of national pride, historical memory, and unresolved tensions.
Bias read (Conservative): The article emphasizes nationalist sentiment, expressions of gratitude toward a war criminal, and calls for territorial claims (Kosovo). It frames these views as legitimate within the context of Serbian identity and memory, without significant counterbalance or critical examination of the broader,国际
Why factuality (95): The article provides detailed descriptions of the funeral event, including the presence of young people like Ivan who attended despite not having lived through the war personally. It accurately references Mladić's conviction by the Hague tribunal for the Srebrenica genocide and other crimes. The inf
Why objectivity (65): The article has a clear bias towards the Serbian perspective, emphasizing gratitude toward Mladić and highlighting the lack of support from Serbia during the war. Emotional language such as 'siamo grati' ('we are grateful') and the framing of Mladić as a defender of the Serbian people indicate a lac
The article discusses the funeral of Ratko Mladić, a former Bosnian Serb military leader convicted of war crimes. It notes that many prominent Serbian figures attended the event, including politicians, religious leaders, and military officials. However, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić did not attend in person, sending his son Danilo instead. The article speculates that Vučić could have attended but chose not to, possibly due to political considerations. It also mentions that Uzbekistan's president, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, was present at the funeral during a state visit arranged four months earlier.
Bias read (Center): The article presents factual information about attendance at Mladić's funeral and makes speculative comments about Vučić's absence without overtly favoring any political side. There is no clear ideological framing or biased language.
Why factuality (92): The article confirms the large attendance at Mladić's funeral and notes the absence of President Vučić, who sent his son instead. It references the presence of high-ranking officials and religious figures but lacks specific details about the event itself. The content aligns with the broader consensu
Why objectivity (50): The article takes a strongly critical stance toward the Serbian government and the public's reaction to Mladić's funeral. It frames the event as a failure of leadership and implies that the state should have taken a stronger stand against honoring a war criminal. This clearly favors one perspective
The body of General Ratko Mladić, who was convicted by the Hague tribunal for multiple crimes against humanity and war crimes during the three-year war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, lay in St. Luke's Church on Monday morning. Long lines of people gathered at the church, where Orthodox liturgies were played on screens accompanying the farewell ceremony. Estimates suggest around ten thousand people attended the event, though the exact number is difficult to determine due to the continuous flow of attendees throughout the day. The funeral took place amid divided opinions regarding Mladić's role in the war. Some veterans praised him as a hero who defended his nation, while others acknowledged the Srebrenica massacre but viewed Mladić's actions as acts of mercy, such as separating women and children from men. Attendees expressed pride in Mladić's leadership and highlighted both the atrocities he committed and the lives he saved.
Bias read (Conservative): The article presents perspectives that praise Mladić's military leadership and downplay the severity of his crimes, emphasizing his role in defending 'his nation' and saving lives. It includes quotes from individuals who view his actions favorably, with minimal emphasis on the international legal认定s
Why factuality (90): The article describes the large turnout at the funeral and includes quotes from individuals present, such as Nedeljko Gredo, a former officer who viewed Mladić as a leader. It references the legal proceedings against him and his conviction for war crimes. However, some details are less specific comp
Why objectivity (55): The article exhibits strong bias, portraying Mladić as a 'hero' and focusing on the admiration of veterans and supporters. The tone is highly sympathetic to those who view Mladić favorably, with minimal critical commentary on his crimes. This creates a one-sided portrayal of the event.
