[REVISION HISTORY]

Ratko Mladić funeral sparks Balkan political crisis and EU

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2026-09-21 11:18 UTC → 2026-09-21 18:06 UTC · added ~~removed~~

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. ~~The political fallout has extended to Montenegro, where officials~~ Diplomatic tensions have ~~faced backlash for actions related to Mladić. Montenegrin Parliament Speaker Andrija Mandić faced criticism~~ escalated following the ceremony, which was attended by approximately 12,500 people. European Commission Commissioner for ~~sending~~ Enlargement Marta Kos canceled a ~~telegram of condolence~~ scheduled visit to ~~Mladić’s family, citing national customs, while~~ Belgrade, stating that the ~~Mayor~~ glorification of ~~Pljevlja, Dario Vraneš, was condemned for denying~~ a convicted war criminal is ‘incompatible with the ~~Srebrenica genocide. In response, civil society organizations have called on Montenegrin~~ values required for EU accession.’ Croatian Prime Minister ~~Milojko Spajić~~ Andrej Plenković also warned that such actions hinder Serbia’s EU path, prompting President Vučić to ~~condemn the glorification~~ accuse Croatia of ~~war criminals~~ ‘glorifying Nazism.’ Additionally, Bosnia and Herzegovina has signaled intentions to ~~protect~~ reduce diplomatic relations with Serbia to the ~~country’s European integration path. In Pljevlja,~~ lowest possible level. Amidst the ~~Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) has further condemned Dario Vraneš, accusing him~~ friction, Cardinal Ladislav Nemet of ~~denying~~ Belgrade urged Western governments not to let the ~~Srebrenica genocide and calling for legal investigations into his rhetoric, which they claim violates international rulings.~~ controversy derail Serbia’s integration, describing the event as involving only a small group of people.

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