In Belgrade, Serbia, controversial funeral ceremonies for the convicted war criminal Ratko Mladić began on Monday. Thousands gathered at the St. Lukas Church to honor Mladić, who died at 83 while imprisoned at the ICTY in The Hague. The EU criticized the 'glorification' of war criminals. Mladić was convicted of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity during the Bosnia War and his sentence was confirmed in 2021. President Vučić did not attend the burial, citing a planned visit by Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. Justice Minister Nenad Vujić, a former member of the ultra-nationalist party of Vojislav Šešelj, will attend. Mladić is linked to the Srebrenica massacre where around 8,000 Muslim men and boys were killed. The Belgrade Youth Initiative for Human Rights reported over 250 graffiti and images of Mladić across Serbia, though a recent survey showed most young people do not view him as a hero. Activists accuse the Serbian government of using Mladić to fuel nationalist sentiment.
Bias read (Conservative): The article frames the event as a national commemoration supported by high-ranking officials like President Vučić and Justice Minister Vujić, despite international criticism. It highlights state-backed honors and mentions figures associated with nationalist movements, suggesting alignment with right





