Serbian President Criticizes U.N. Court Over Mladic’s Incarceration
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has condemned the U.N. tribunal in The Hague for its decision not to grant early release to Ratko Mladic, who passed away at 84 while serving a life sentence. Vucic accused the court of “uncivilized behavior” after they turned down Mladic’s release despite his deteriorating health.
Mladic, the former commander of the Bosnian Serb army, was imprisoned for war crimes committed during the 1990s Yugoslav wars. His family had repeatedly requested his release on humanitarian grounds, citing his age and health concerns. Their latest appeal was rejected just a week before Mladic’s death.
“That was uncivilized behavior, unprecedented and without excuse,” Vucic stated. “We can now see that they wanted Mladic to die behind bars.”
The U.N. court, which deals with war crimes from the Balkan conflicts, handed Mladic a life sentence in 2017, marking a significant step toward justice for the victims. Mladic, a key figure in the wars which resulted in over 100,000 deaths, had been detained since 2011.
In a ruling dated August 20, Judge Graciela Gatti Santana cited the “comprehensive and compassionate medical care” Mladic received in custody as a basis for denying the release request.
Mixed Reactions to Mladic’s Death
Vigils were held by Bosnian Serbs to honor Mladic, who remains a controversial figure. “He could not have been a better man. Everything else is just a bunch of lies,” said Stojanka Visnjevac, a resident of Mladic’s hometown, Kalinovik.
Conversely, families of Mladic’s victims view his death as a form of justice. Fazila Efendic, who lost family members in the 1995 Srebrenica massacre, expressed relief. “We, the victims, are satisfied, when we know that he was convicted to life in prison,” she remarked.
The Srebrenica massacre, recognized as Europe’s first genocide since World War II, saw over 8,000 Bosnian Muslims killed. Mladic’s forces were also implicated in other wartime atrocities, including the siege of Sarajevo and the establishment of concentration camps.
Future of Mladic’s Burial
The location of Mladic’s burial remains undecided. President Vucic stated that the decision rests with Mladic’s family. “If the family expresses a wish that he be buried in the territory of Serbia, we will help so it can be done in a dignified way,” Vucic said. He did not confirm whether Mladic would receive a state funeral, a prospect that has stirred regional controversy.
The U.N. court has initiated an inquiry into Mladic’s death, with a judge visiting the detention center. However, the court will not disclose the cause of death until the inquiry concludes. Dutch authorities have indicated they will not conduct a criminal investigation or an autopsy.
