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10 clusters · 544 sources · 75 days · First seen · Last updated

Ratko Mladić funeral sparks Balkan political crisis and EU

Overview

Ratko Mladić, the former commander of the Army of Republika Srpska, died at the age of 84 at a United Nations prison hospital in The Hague while serving a life sentence for genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. His convictions included responsibility for the 1995 Srebrenica massacre and the siege of Sarajevo. Following his death, Mladić was buried at Topčidersko Cemetery in Belgrade. While President Aleksandar Vučić’s government has denied the event was an official state funeral, the ceremony featured significant state involvement, including the use of a government aircraft to transport his remains. The funeral included military honors, a military band, and a coffin draped in the Serbian flag. Attendees included government ministers, such as Minister of Justice Nenad Vujić, Patriarch Porfirije of the Serbian Orthodox Church, and Danilo Vučić.

The commemorations have triggered intense international condemnation. United Nations official Chaloka Beyani described the event as ‘extremely inappropriate and deeply disturbing,’ while European Union leaders, including Ursula von der Leyen and António Costa, characterized the scenes as ‘shocking,’ warning of potential impacts on Serbia’s EU membership path.

Diplomatic tensions have escalated following the ceremony, which was attended by approximately 12,500 people. European Commission Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos canceled a scheduled visit to Belgrade, stating that the glorification of a convicted war criminal is ‘incompatible with the values required for EU accession.’ Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković also warned that such actions hinder Serbia’s EU path, prompting President Vučić to accuse Croatia of ‘glorifying Nazism.’ Additionally, Bosnia and Herzegovina has signaled intentions to reduce diplomatic relations with Serbia to the lowest possible level. Amidst the friction, Cardinal Ladislav Nemet of Belgrade urged Western governments not to let the controversy derail Serbia’s integration, describing the event as involving only a small group of people.

Entities

Ratko Mladić · International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals · Nenad Vujić · The Hague · Graciela Gatti Santana

Claims

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Coverage disagrees

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Timeline

  1. 24 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 7 sources
    Ratko Mladić death investigation launched by UN Mechanism

    The International Residual Mechanism is investigating the death of Ratko Mladić in detention, while Serbian officials seek answers regarding his medical treatment and prepare for a dignified funeral.

  2. 25 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 5 sources
    Ratko Mladić, convicted Bosnian Serb war criminal, dies in prison

    Convicted war criminal Ratko Mladić, responsible for the Srebrenica genocide and the siege of Sarajevo, has died in prison at The Hague at age 84.

  3. 27 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 518 sources
    Ratko Mladić, convicted Bosnian Serb general, dies in The Hague

    Ratko Mladić, the former Bosnian Serb general convicted of genocide in Srebrenica, has died in a UN prison hospital in The Hague. An investigation into the circumstances of his death is underway.

  4. 29 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 29 sources
    Ratko Mladić: IRMCT rejects humanitarian release request

    The IRMCT rejected a request to release Ratko Mladić to Serbia for humanitarian reasons, despite medical reports stating the convicted war criminal is in the final stages of life.

  5. about 1 month ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 21 sources
    Ratko Mladić: IRCT rejects humanitarian release request

    The IRCT has denied Ratko Mladić's request for humanitarian release, ruling that imminent death is not automatic grounds for release as he is receiving adequate palliative care in detention.

  6. about 1 month ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 18 sources
    Ratko Mladić release request denied by Hague tribunal

    The International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals denied Ratko Mladić's request for early release on humanitarian grounds, citing sufficient palliative care in the Netherlands.

  7. about 2 months ago

    [CRIME] 2 sources
    Ratko Mladić's health worsens as ICC rejects release to Serbia

    Ratko Mladić’s health has sharply declined; the ICC denied his family's request to move him to Serbia for treatment, keeping him in The Hague detention.

  8. 2 months ago

    [CRIME] 2 sources
    Ratko Mladić Nearing Death as Health Fails in Hague Prison

    War‑crimes convict Ratko Mladić is in critical condition in the Hague prison, unable to speak after two strokes and facing an imminent risk of death, according to his son and doctors.

  9. 3 months ago

    [CRIME] 2 sources
    General Ratko Mladic to be examined by Serbian neuropsychiatrist on June 29

    Serbian neuro‑psychiatrist will visit detained Bosnian Serb war criminal General Ratko Mladic in The Hague on June 29 to assess his health after brain injuries.

  10. 3 months ago

    [CRIME] 2 sources
    General Ratko Mladic's health deteriorates as ICC rejects Serbian treatment request

    General Ratko Mladic, detained in The Hague, is in critical health after repeated strokes; the ICC denied Serbia's request for his temporary release for treatment.

Sources

035portal.hr · 072info.com · 15min.lt · 24-ore.com · 24sata.hr · 24sata.info · 24ur.com · 31mag.nl · 324.cat · 360stepeni.mk · 4jewish.com · a1on.mk · abcnews.al · abcportal.info · abendblatt.de · actualno.com · adevarul.ro · aeiou.pt · agenpress.it · akos.ba · aksam.com.tr · aktual24.ro · aktuale.mk · aktuelno.me · alfa.mk · allgaeuer-zeitung.de · anadoludabugun.com.tr · anders.hesselgren.se · ansa.it · anzacday.org.au · apuntmedia.es · arabnews.pk · arbresh.info · archive.in.gr · argumenti.rs · ariadna.elmundo.es · army.ca · art-news.it · artigercek.com · askanews.it · atlantico.net · atvbl.rs · autor.aktuality.sk · aventurasnahistoria.uol.com.br · azeritimes.com · balk.hu · balkaninsight.com · balkanweb.com

This summary has been updated 60 times: see revision history