Ratko Mladić, the former Bosnian Serb military leader convicted of war crimes and genocide, has died at the age of 84 in a prison hospital in The Hague. His death has reignited deep ethnic divisions in the Balkans, with contrasting reactions observed in Serbia and Bosnia. In Republika Srpska, a region of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mladić is mourned and celebrated as a hero by his supporters. They have gathered in public spaces, lighting candles and laying wreaths in his honor. In stark contrast, in Sarajevo and other cities within the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, he is remembered as a war criminal responsible for the genocide in Srebrenica and the prolonged siege of Sarajevo.
The Memorial Center Srebrenica has responded to the glorification of Mladić by requesting UEFA to permanently disqualify the Serbian football club Crvena Zvezda. During a match in the Czech Republic, Crvena Zvezda supporters displayed a banner praising Mladić and chanted his name. The club also promoted these messages on its official social media channels, prompting the Memorial Center to argue that such actions go beyond mere fan behavior and reflect an institutional stance that contradicts UEFA’s values.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić took nearly 24 hours to publicly comment on Mladić’s death, during which time he expressed condolences to the family of the deceased Norwegian king. Vučić eventually offered his condolences to Mladić’s family, noting that the timing and location of Mladić’s funeral remain uncertain, pending procedures from the tribunal in The Hague. Vučić, who has a history of supporting Serbian nationalist figures, stated that he is in contact with Mladić’s family and assured that the funeral will be conducted with dignity.
There are ongoing discussions regarding the location of Mladić’s burial. Some local media suggest he might be buried at Topčider Cemetery in Belgrade, next to his daughter who died during the war. Despite calls from Mladić’s supporters for a funeral with full military honors, Serbian law stipulates that such honors are not granted to individuals who have been sentenced to unconditional imprisonment exceeding one year. However, past instances have seen some convicted war criminals receive military honors at their funerals.
The reactions to Mladić’s death have the potential to further escalate tensions in the region. In Bosnia, while some political leaders and victim associations emphasize that Mladić’s death does not alter the judicially established facts of his crimes, his supporters in Republika Srpska have organized events to honor him. These gatherings have taken place in various towns, including Zvornik, Višegrad, and Srebrenica, where Mladić’s forces committed atrocities in 1995.
For the families of the victims, the most significant outcome is that Mladić served his life sentence without reduction or commutation, as emphasized by Kada Hotić, vice president of the Movement of Mothers of Srebrenica and Žepa Enclaves. She highlighted the enduring impact of Mladić’s actions, stating that her ongoing search for the remains of her family members is a direct result of his orders.
The situation remains fluid, with potential for further developments regarding public responses and the arrangements for Mladić’s funeral. The contrasting reactions in Serbia and Bosnia underscore the persistent ethnic divisions in the Balkans, rooted in the conflicts of the 1990s. As the region grapples with these historical tensions, the death of Ratko Mladić serves as a reminder of the enduring impact of past conflicts on present-day relations.
