Key facts
- The EU warned Serbia that public commemorations for convicted war criminal Ratko Mladić risk undermining its EU membership bid.
- EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos stated that the upcoming funeral will be a "very important test" for Serbia.
- Ratko Mladić's remains were flown to Serbia from The Hague, Netherlands.
- Mladić's son announced his father will be buried on Monday, with a military commemoration ceremony planned for Saturday.
- The Council of Europe and Belgium's Foreign Minister condemned any glorification of Mladić.
The European Union has warned Serbia that public commemorations for convicted war criminal Ratko Mladić risk undermining its EU membership bid. EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos stated that the upcoming funeral will be a "very important test" for Serbia's commitment to European values.
Mladić's remains were flown to Serbia from The Hague, Netherlands, following his death last week. Upon arrival in Belgrade, his coffin was wrapped in the national flag, and Serbian soldiers carried his body. Serbia's Justice Minister was on the plane with Mladić's family, while nationalist admirers gathered.
Mladić's son, Darko Mladić, announced that his father will be buried on Monday, with a military commemoration ceremony planned for Saturday. A church service will be held Monday morning for public respects. Previously, Serbia's Justice Minister had indicated Mladić would receive full state honors, sparking outrage.
The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, urged authorities to "counter the glorification of convicted war criminals." Belgium's Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot condemned granting funeral honors as "shameful and disrespectful for the victims."
Serbia's President Aleksandar Vučić stated that funeral arrangements were decided by the family and that he had done all he could to ensure the funeral passes appropriately. Serbia's EU bid has been stalled due to democratic backsliding and its refusal to join international sanctions against Russia. Mladić was convicted of genocide for orchestrating the 1995 Srebrenica massacre, the siege of Sarajevo, and other war crimes during the 1992-95 Bosnian War, which killed over 100,000 people.