Thousands gathered in Belgrade for the funeral of Ratko Mladić, the Bosnian Serb commander convicted of genocide, drawing criticism from the EU over the glorification of war criminals.

Ratko Mladić, the Bosnian Serb commander convicted of genocide and war crimes, was buried in Belgrade on Monday, September 7, 2026. Thousands attended the service, which took place despite warnings from the European Union against the glorification of war criminals. Mladić died at age 84 while serving a life sentence in The Hague.

Funeral Service and Attendance

The funeral was held at the St. Luke Church in Belgrade, where Mladić’s body had laid in state since Monday morning. The service was led by Patriarch Porfir led by Patriarch Porfir led by Patriarch Porfir led by Patriarch Porfir led by Patriarch Porfirije of the Serb Orthodox Church, who stated that Mladić’s name would remain in the prayers of those who feel gratitude toward him. Mourners included former soldiers, football fans, and political representatives from the Republika Srpska. Although the Serbian government had previously stated that no serving officials would attend, several ministers—including those for justice, culture, defense, and public investments—were present. Also in attendance were the Russian ambassador to Serbia, Alexander Botsan-Kharchenko, and the son of President Aleksandar Vučić, Danilo.

Government Involvement and EU Reaction

The Serbian government facilitated the return of Mladić’s remains, sending a plane to bring them to Belgrade last week. While Justice Minister Nenad Vujić initially announced that the state would provide military and state honors, President Vučić later tempered this decision, stating the event would proceed according to the family's wishes without official state honors. A separate military commemoration was held on Saturday at an official army venue, which the government described as being organized by an association of retired generals. Following the funeral, an EU spokesperson stated that the glorification of war criminals and genocide denial contradict fundamental European values. President Vučić has rejected accusations of glorifying Mladić, maintaining that the service was conducted in accordance with the family's wishes.