Balkan leaders and public figures face backlash over Ratko Mladić glorification

Ratko Mladić war crimes glorification Balkan politics Lidija Vukićević criminal complaints

Public controversy is spreading across the Balkans following various expressions of support for Ratko Mladić, a convicted war criminal. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbian actress Lidija Vukićević faces a criminal complaint after posting social media content honoring Mladić. This has led to calls for her removal from the series ‘Bos il’ Hadžija’, which she is currently filming in Sarajevo.

In Montenegro, non-governmental organizations and activists have filed criminal complaints against Metropolitan Metodije, MP Milan Knežević, and Speaker of Parliament Andrija Mandić. The complaints allege the public glorification of Mladić, with Metodije describing him as a ‘great man’ and Knežević stating that ‘every Serbian house has one Ratko’. Political figures in North Macedonia have also condemned such rhetoric, emphasizing the need for institutional accountability regarding the glorification of genocide perpetrators.

Additionally, in Tomislavgrad, Bosnia and Herzegovina, a doctor at the local health center was issued a notice of termination of employment after sharing a photo of Mladić on social media. The local HDZ party demanded her immediate dismissal, citing the act as an insult to war veterans and victims.

Entities

Andrija Mandić · HDZ BiH · Ivanka Živković · Lidija Vukićević · Metodije · Metropolitan Metodije · Mihailo · Milan Knežević · Milorad Dodik · OSCE · Ratko Mladić · SDP

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[○ 1 SOURCE] Metropolitan Mihailo of the Serbian Orthodox Church condemned the glorification of Ratko Mladić in Piva, calling it the 'kanonizacija zločina' (canonization of crime).
[○ 1 SOURCE] Metropolitan Metodije of the Serbian Orthodox Church described Ratko Mladić as a great man among the Serbian people during a liturgy in Piva.
[○ 1 SOURCE] Miloš Đuričković called on Montenegrin Prime Minister Milojko Spajić and Foreign Minister Ervin Ibrahimović to file criminal charges against Metropolitan Metodije for glorifying Ratko Mladić. rtnk.me
[● 4 SOURCES] The HDZ BiH Tomislavgrad Municipal Committee demanded the immediate dismissal of a doctor at the Tomislavgrad Health Center after she posted a photo of Ratko Mladić on social media. pogled.ba · hms.ba · www.072info.com · tomislavcity.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] Kosovo's former President Vjosa Osmani criticized the Serbian government, stating that its reaction to Mladić's death shows the regime has not changed and continues to glorify war criminals. www.vijesti.ba
[○ 1 SOURCE] The director of the Tomislavgrad Health Center, Ivanka Živković, confirmed that the doctor involved was issued a notice of termination of employment. www.072info.com
[● 3 SOURCES] SDSM accuses Prime Minister Hristijan Micoski of failing to hold government official Ivan Stoilkovik accountable for glorifying convicted war criminal Ratko Mladic. libertas.mk · makfax.com.mk · sdsm.org.mk
[● 3 SOURCES] SDSM asserts that glorifying or justifying genocide, crimes against humanity, or war crimes is a criminal offense under Article 407 of the Criminal Code. libertas.mk · makfax.com.mk · sdsm.org.mk
[○ 1 SOURCE] SDSM calls for the dismissal of Dalibor Kitanovik, Director of the Agency for Communal Rights, alongside Stoilkovik. makfax.com.mk
[● 3 SOURCES] The SDSM party claims Micoski is implementing a policy of ethnic provocation and tension at the behest of Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić. libertas.mk · makfax.com.mk · sdsm.org.mk
[● 3 SOURCES] The SDSM party accused Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski of failing to hold government officials accountable for glorifying Ratko Mladić. libertas.mk · makfax.com.mk · sdsm.org.mk
[● 4 SOURCES] Metropolitan Metodije referred to Ratko Mladić as a ‘great man among the Serbian people’ and a person worthy of respect. etv.me · kodex.me · otvoreno.me · www.vijesti.me