Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic accused a UN war crimes court of "uncivilised behaviour" for not allowing Ratko Mladic to die in Serbia. Mladic, convicted of genocide, died in a UN detention facility in The Hague.
The death of Ratko Mladic and the subsequent diplomatic friction highlight the enduring sensitivities and unresolved issues surrounding the Balkan wars and the legacy of war crimes trials.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has accused a United Nations war crimes court of "uncivilised behaviour" following the death of former Bosnian Serb army commander Ratko Mladic in a UN detention facility in The Hague. Mladic, 83, was serving a life sentence for genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes committed during Bosnia's 1992-95 war.
Vucic expressed frustration that Mladic was not allowed to die in Serbia, stating, "We have seen now that The Hague wanted Mladic's death behind bars." He added that Serbia was awaiting word from the court regarding the return of Mladic's body for a dignified burial, should his family request it.
The court had denied Mladic's request last month to return to Serbia to die, citing that his health was precarious but stable and well-managed. The UN body overseeing residual cases from the Yugoslav war crimes tribunal did not immediately respond to inquiries about the transfer of Mladic's remains.
Mladic was convicted for his role in the 1995 Srebrenica massacre, where approximately 8,000 Bosniak Muslim men and boys were killed, and for the 43-month siege of Sarajevo. Despite his convictions, he remains a revered figure among many Serbs, while survivors of the massacre expressed that he should have remained in prison.
The court has initiated an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding Mladic's death.