Thousands gathered in Belgrade for the funeral of former Bosnian Serb commander Ratko Mladic, who died while serving a life sentence for genocide and war crimes.

Thousands of people gathered in Belgrade on Monday for the funeral of Ratko Mladic, the former Bosnian Serb army commander convicted of genocide and war crimes during the 1990s Yugoslav wars. Mladic, who died at age 84 while serving a life sentence in The Hague, was interred at Topcider Cemetery with military honors. The funeral service was officiated by Serbian Patriarch Porfirije, and the procession included government members and foreign officials.

Funeral Details and Attendance

Mladic’s body lay in state at St. Luke church prior to the burial, which took place in accordance with his wishes beside his daughter. The ceremony drew thousands of mourners, including opposition figures, officials from Republika Srpska, pro-Serbian politicians from Montenegro, and Russia’s Ambassador to Serbia, Alexandar Botsan-Kharchenko. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic did not attend, though his son, Danilo, was present.

Political and International Reaction

The decision to grant Mladic military honors drew sharp criticism from the European Union and civil society organizations, who characterized the event as a glorification of a war criminal. EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos cancelled a planned visit to Belgrade in protest, stating that such actions contradict fundamental European values. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also issued a warning against the glorification of convicted war criminals. President Vucic defended the state's involvement, stating that the government was respecting the family's wishes and ensuring a dignified burial. He dismissed criticism from the EU, describing the reaction of Commissioner Kos as "stupid" and rejecting comparisons to the treatment of unmarked graves of World War II-era "enemies of the people."