Key facts
- Ratko Mladić, convicted of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity, died in prison.
- Mladić was the commander of Bosnian Serb forces during the breakup of Yugoslavia.
- He was responsible for the Srebrenica genocide, where at least 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys were killed.
- During the siege of Sarajevo, Bosnian Serb forces killed over 11,000 people.
- Despite his convictions, some Serbian politicians and citizens view Mladić as a hero.
- The Serbian government announced Mladić would receive state honors upon burial.
Ratko Mladić, the former commander of the Bosnian Serb forces responsible for widespread atrocities including the Srebrenica genocide, died in prison on Thursday. His death has reignited divisions in the Balkans, with victims and survivors condemning any attempts to glorify his legacy.
Mladić, often referred to as the "Butcher of Bosnia," was convicted of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity for his role in the breakup of Yugoslavia in the 1990s. He was responsible for the deaths of an estimated 100,000 people, the ethnic cleansing of vast areas, and the genocidal slaughter of at least 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys at Srebrenica. The 1,425-day siege of Sarajevo, the longest in modern warfare, also resulted in over 11,000 deaths, including 2,000 children.
Džemil Hodžić, who was 12 during the Sarajevo siege, recalled Mladić as a "horror creature" responsible for the daily suffering and loss of life. Zoran Kusovać, a journalist who met Mladić, described him as a "bully" who believed he would never be held accountable for his actions.
Despite the international condemnation and Mladić's life sentence, some in Serbia view him as a hero who defended Serbian interests. Ultranationalist politician Vojislav Šešelj praised Mladić for fighting against "villains" at The Hague, and Bosnian Serb separatist leader Milorad Dodik stated that Mladić "was respected by the Serbian people." The Serbian government's announcement that Mladić would be buried with state honors has drawn criticism.
UN Secretary General António Guterres urged those in power to "refrain from denying the seriousness of the crimes." Emir Suljagić, director of the Srebrenica Memorial, emphasized that Mladić's death does not erase historical facts and stressed the importance of ensuring that "the truth, responsibility and memory die not with him." He also highlighted that many individuals complicit in Mladić's crimes remain free, contributing to ongoing insecurity for Bosnian people. Dr Waqar Azmi of Remembering Srebrenica stated Mladić's legacy is one of "shame" and "human cruelty."