Mladić commemorated in Belgrade, but Serbia denies him state honours
A commemoration for convicted war criminal Ratko Mladić was held in Belgrade on Saturday, organised by retired generals rather than the state, as Serbia faces EU criticism over his glorification. He will be buried Monday without state or military honours and without senior officials present.
A commemoration for former Bosnian Serb army commander Ratko Mladić began Saturday at the House of the Serbian Army in Belgrade. Mladić died last week while serving a life sentence for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the 1992-1995 Bosnian war. Serbian officials stressed the event was organised by an association of retired generals, not the state, and no Belgrade officials attended.
His remains were flown from The Hague to Belgrade on a government plane on Thursday. Soldiers carried his flag-draped coffin to an unmarked van that received a police escort along Belgrade's main motorway. Justice Minister Nenad Vujić, who had initially promised Mladić "all military and state honours," was aboard the flight along with his son Darko and two former army aides.
The body was taken to a military hospital for an autopsy. His coffin will be displayed Monday morning at a church near Košutnjak cemetery, with burial to follow the same day — without state or military honours, artillery salutes, or ceremonial military presence, and without burial in the Alley of the Greats despite requests. No senior officials, including President Aleksandar Vučić, the prime minister or the parliament speaker, will attend. Mladić will be buried next to his daughter, who died by suicide in the 1990s.
Vučić warned that tens of thousands of Mladić's admirers could attend the funeral, straining security. He said he personally would miss the burial due to a previously scheduled visit by Uzbekistan's president.
EU criticises glorification
Following Mladić's death, thousands of Serbs held vigils and marches honouring him, prompting condemnation from Brussels. EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos cancelled a planned visit to Serbia, saying the glorification surrounding his death was incompatible with EU values and calling the return of his remains a reminder of Europe's darkest history. Vučić dismissed her comments as "stupid." Council of Europe human rights commissioner Michael O'Flaherty urged Serbian and Bosnian Serb authorities to counter glorification of convicted war criminals. Belgian and Irish foreign ministers also objected to any honours for a person convicted of genocide. UEFA fined football club Red Star Belgrade €90,000 over fan chants praising Mladić, and fined Bosnia's FK Borac Banja Luka €39,500 for similar chants.
