The Serbian government has left the decision regarding Ratko Mladic's funeral arrangements to his family amid increasing international pressure. Mladic, a former Bosnian Serb army commander, died last week in The Hague while serving a life sentence for genocide and other war crimes committed during the Bosnian War. His body has been returned to Serbia, wrapped in the Serbian flag, and transported to the Military Medical Academy for autopsy.
Citizens gathered along the route from the airport to the hospital, some holding banners that read "Thank you, General" and "Heroes never die." Pro-government tabloids have provided extensive coverage, referring to Mladic as a "Serbian general" and claiming he was "killed in The Hague."
In 2017, Mladic was sentenced to life imprisonment by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia for his role in the genocide in Srebrenica, where over 8,000 Muslim men and boys were killed, as well as for the siege of Sarajevo and other war crimes.
Reports indicate that Mladic will be buried in Belgrade on Monday, with Justice Minister Nenad Vujic announcing that the funeral would be conducted with the highest state honors. However, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic stated that the final decision will be left to Mladic's family. Security agencies anticipate that tens of thousands may attend the funeral, and Vucic mentioned the challenges of ensuring public safety during the event.
Jasmina Lazovic, executive director of the Humanitarian Law Center in Belgrade, expressed that the glorification of Mladic is not surprising, citing the long-standing narrative in Serbia that he was unjustly convicted. She noted that many towns in Serbia have murals glorifying him and that the narrative has shifted to suggest he was killed, despite his age and health issues at the time of death.
Lazovic emphasized the importance of acknowledging the consequences of the wars and the victims, including those who suffered from rape, torture, and displacement. She pointed out that the glorification of war criminals contradicts European values, as stated by European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos, who urged the Serbian government to recognize this.
Vucic responded to international criticism by accusing the West and the Hague Tribunal of unfairly blaming Serbs for war crimes. He has left the decision on state honors for Mladic to his family, while Lazovic believes the final decision will depend on political calculations.
The legal implications of honoring Mladic are also significant, as under Serbian law, individuals sentenced to more than one year in prison for a criminal offense lose their military rank and associated privileges. Lazovic highlighted that honoring Mladic as a general would violate this law.
Public opinion in Serbia regarding Mladic is divided. Some citizens view him as a hero, while others accept the genocide verdict. Many, however, express indifference, focusing on their personal issues rather than the controversy surrounding Mladic's legacy. Lazovic argues that confronting Mladic's legacy is crucial for the future of Serbian society.