Patriarch Porfirije of the Serbian Orthodox Church has come under intense scrutiny following his participation in the funeral of Ratko Mladić, a convicted war criminal. The ceremony, held in Belgrade, has sparked significant backlash across the Balkans and has led to calls within Croatia for the European Union to ban Porfirije from entering its member states. This development highlights the ongoing regional tensions and the complex relationship between Serbia and its neighbors.
The controversy erupted after Porfirije conducted the funeral service for Mladić, who was convicted of war crimes and genocide by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. Mladić, the former commander of the Bosnian Serb Army, was found guilty of orchestrating the Srebrenica massacre and other atrocities during the Bosnian War. His funeral was attended by a large number of supporters, including some Serbian officials, which has been perceived as a glorification of his actions.
In Croatia, the reaction has been particularly strong. Igor Peternel, a Croatian politician and vice-president of the DOMiNO party, has urged the Croatian government to initiate a ban on Porfirije’s entry into the EU. Peternel criticized the patriarch’s remarks at the funeral, interpreting them as an attempt to glorify Mladić. He argued that allowing Porfirije into the EU would undermine the seriousness of international court rulings. “Umro je, oni ga tamo slave, dok ga Porfirije praktično pretvara u sveca, i to javno,” Peternel was quoted as saying, which translates to “He died, they celebrate him there, while Porfirije practically turns him into a saint, and publicly so.”
The Islamic Community in Bosnia and Herzegovina also condemned Porfirije’s actions. They expressed concern over what they described as the public and official glorification of Mladić and his crimes, which they believe undermines efforts to confront the past and rebuild trust in the region. The community’s statement emphasized the problematic nature of Porfirije’s involvement in the funeral, suggesting that it amounted to turning a war criminal into a hero and a role model for future generations.
The situation has further complicated Serbia’s relations with its neighbors and the EU. While there has been no official response from the EU regarding the calls for a ban, the incident has drawn attention to Serbia’s ongoing challenges with its European integration process. The European Commission has previously stated that the glorification of war criminals is incompatible with European values and could potentially affect Serbia’s EU accession talks.
In Slovenia, a separate legal issue involving Patriarch Porfirije has also surfaced. The Ljubljana District Court recently handed down a conditional sentence to Porfirije related to a long-standing dispute with former Ljubljana parish priest Željko Lubarda. The court found Porfirije guilty of workplace harassment, a case that stems from Lubarda’s allegations of financial misconduct within the church. This legal battle, while unrelated to the Mladić funeral, adds another layer of controversy to Porfirije’s current standing.
The broader implications of these events are yet to be fully realized. The backlash against Porfirije’s actions at Mladić’s funeral underscores the sensitivity of war crimes and historical narratives in the Balkans. It also raises questions about the role of religious leaders in political and social issues, particularly in regions with a history of ethnic conflict.
As the situation develops, the responses from the EU and other international bodies will be closely watched. The calls for a ban on Porfirije highlight the ongoing tensions between honoring religious duties and adhering to international norms and values. The outcome of this controversy could have significant repercussions for Serbia’s diplomatic relations and its path toward EU membership.
