# Ratko Mladić glorification controversies in the Balkans > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/ratko-mladi-glorification-controversies-in-the-balkans > Updated: 2026-08-29T00:00:00.000Z. Sources: 24. Developments: 4. Legal and political tensions have intensified in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Serbia regarding the public glorification of convicted war criminal Ratko Mladić. Following Mladić’s death on August 27 at a detention facility in The Hague, where he was serving a life sentence for genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity, reactions have been deeply polarized. In Serbia, Justice Minister Nenad Vujić confirmed the government’s intention to grant Mladić the highest military and state honors during a burial in Belgrade, should his family choose it. This decision has drawn backlash from Serbian opposition figures and neighboring countries. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, members of the SDP filed criminal complaints against several high-ranking officials, including Milorad Dodik, alleging they attempted to justify genocide through public praise. The OSCE has called for the judiciary to take uncompromising action to uphold the rule of law. Additionally, in Tomislavgrad, the HDZ BiH demanded the dismissal of a doctor following social media posts expressing thanks to Mladić; the local health center announced it would initiate legal and disciplinary proceedings, noting such acts violate professional codes. In Montenegro, Vice President of the Republika Srpska, Ćamil Duraković, filed a criminal complaint against Parliament Speaker Andrije Mandić with the Higher State Prosecutor's Office. The complaint follows Mandić’s expression of condolences to Mladić’s son, which Duraković argued violates the dignity of victims and undermines Montenegro’s international reputation. While Montenegrin Prime Minister Milojko Spajić and President Jakov Milatović have distanced themselves from the glorification of war crimes, Mandić’s actions have drawn criticism from the European Parliament and the Croatian government. ## Claims - Milorad Dodik stated that Ratko Mladić led the army to defend Serbs rather than to commit crimes against others. (disputed) - Ratko Mladić was convicted of war crimes against Bosniaks and Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina. (disputed) - Ćamil Duraković filed a criminal complaint with the Higher State Prosecutor's Office in Montenegro against Andrije Mandić. (corroborated by 9 sources) - Duraković called for the urgent removal of Andrije Mandić from his position as Speaker of the Parliament of Montenegro. (corroborated by 9 sources) - Duraković welcomed the distancing from war crime glorification by Montenegrin Prime Minister Milojko Spajić and President Jakov Milatović. (corroborated by 9 sources) - Andrije Mandić publicly expressed condolences to Darko Mladić, the son of Ratko Mladić. (corroborated by 2 sources) - Serbian Justice Minister Nenad Vujić announced that Ratko Mladić will be buried with the highest military and state honors. (corroborated by 2 sources) - Ratko Mladić died on Thursday, August 27, at a detention hospital in The Hague. (corroborated by 2 sources) - Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić stated that if the family chooses Serbia for the burial, the state will organize the ceremony with dignity and respect. (corroborated by 2 sources) - Opposition politician Nenad Čanak criticized the decision, arguing it attempts to turn a criminal into a symbol and portray Serbia as innocent. (corroborated by 2 sources) - Milorad Dodik declared that Republika Srpska will not forget Ratko Mladić's role. (single source) ## Timeline ### 2026-08-29: Andrije Mandić faces criminal complaint over Ratko Mladić condolences Ćamil Duraković filed a criminal complaint against Montenegrin Parliament Speaker Andrije Mandić for publicly honoring convicted war criminal Ratko Mladić, calling for Mandić's immediate removal. 11 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/andrije-mandi-faces-criminal-complaint-over-ratko-mladi-comments ### 2026-08-28: Serbia to grant state honors to convicted war criminal Ratko Mladić Serbia plans to bury convicted war criminal Ratko Mladić with full military and state honors, sparking intense controversy and backlash across the Balkans. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/serbia-to-grant-military-honors-to-convicted-genocidaire-ratko-mladi ### 2026-08-28: Ratko Mladić death sparks debate over legacy and political shifts Reactions to the death of convicted war criminal Ratko Mladić reveal political shifts, with Milorad Dodik praising him as a hero despite previously supporting his prosecution by the ICTY. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ratko-mladi-death-sparks-debate-over-legacy-and-political-shifts ### 2026-08-28: Bosnia and Herzegovina faces backlash over glorification of Ratko Mladić Legal complaints and calls for accountability have emerged in Bosnia and Herzegovina following incidents of glorifying war criminal Ratko Mladić by political figures and a medical professional. 6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/bosnia-and-herzegovina-faces-backlash-over-glorification-of-ratko-mladi --- Cite as: Ratko Mladić glorification controversies in the Balkans. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/ratko-mladi-glorification-controversies-in-the-balkans