Thousands turn out in Serbia for funeral of 'Butcher of Bosnia' Ratko Mladić

Thousands turned out in Serbia's capital, Belgrade, for the funeral of Ratko Mladić, the former Bosnian Serb general widely known as the "Butcher of Bosnia." Mladić, who died at the age of 84 while serving a life sentence in the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, was laid to rest following a ceremony attended by thousands of mourners. His death sparked both public mourning and international criticism, with the European Union condemning efforts to glorify him. Mladić was convicted of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity for his role in the 1995 Srebrenica massacre, where approximately 8,000 Bosniak Muslim men and boys were killed. The incident is considered Europe's worst atrocity since World War II. During the 1992–1995 Bosnian war, Mladić commanded Bosnian Serb forces that engaged in widespread ethnic cleansing, targeting non-Serbian populations. His troops besieged Sarajevo, resulting in over 10,000 civilian deaths. Mladić was arrested in 2011, nearly 16 years after being indicted, and was finally sentenced to life imprisonment in 2021 after a nine-year trial. Initially, Serbian government officials had planned a state funeral for Mladić, but these plans were altered due to objections from some European leaders. The EU expressed concerns over the potential glorification of a convicted war criminal, describing it as incompatible with its core values. Despite his legal convictions, Mladić remains a revered figure among many Serbs, especially within the Bosnian Serb entity of Republika Srpska, where his death prompted vigils and expressions of solidarity. The funeral service took place at St. Luka Church in Belgrade, where Mladić's coffin was guarded by war veterans and members of the Serbian Orthodox clergy. The ceremony was led by Patriarch Porfirije, who stated that Mladić's name would remain "deeply etched in the memory and prayers of the majority of our Serbian Orthodox people." Long queues formed outside the church, with attendees including army veterans, families, and supporters who wore shirts bearing Mladić's image. Some individuals draped themselves in flags featuring his likeness, reflecting the deep emotional connection many Serbs still hold toward him. Mladić's body was transported back to Serbia on a government plane, where it was carried by six soldiers and draped in flags. Free bus services were arranged for mourners traveling from Bosnia and other parts of Serbia. In a symbolic gesture, fans of the Serbian football club Red Star Belgrade displayed a tribute to Mladić before their match against Partizan Belgrade. For some, the funeral reignited painful memories of the conflict. A woman from Sarajevo, Zdravka Gvozdjar, whose nine-year-old son was killed during the siege of the city by Mladić's forces, described the event as "really horrible." She emphasized that Mladić "deserved to be erased from memory for good" and should be remembered only as a "butcher." Others viewed the funeral as a reflection of national identity and resilience. Daniella Peled, editor at the Institute of War and Peace Reporting, noted that while the war crimes tribunal provided a detailed account of Mladić's actions, Serbian media and education systems have largely failed to reflect the full extent of his crimes or the experiences of victims. Pro-government Serbian media often portray Mladić as a symbol of resistance and national pride, despite his legal accountability for atrocities. The funeral also drew attention from international observers. The European Union's enlargement commissioner, Marta Kos, canceled a planned visit to Serbia, citing the "glorification" of Mladić as a violation of EU values. Meanwhile, Denis Becirovic, chairman of Bosnia’s tripartite presidency, condemned the event as an "act of identification by Serbia’s leadership with one of the worst killers in European history." As the funeral concluded, the event underscored the complex legacy of Mladić, a man whose actions shaped the course of modern European history, yet whose memory continues to divide communities across the region.