Bosnian Serb war criminal Mladić commemorated in Belgrade, but no state honours

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Published: 2026-09-05T12:09:08.711Z • Permanent link

Thousands of mourners are expected to gather in Belgrade on Monday to bid farewell to Radovan Mladić, a Bosnian Serb war criminal who died in prison in 2021. The burial, which will take place without serving officials, artillery salutes, or ceremonial military presence, is a stark contrast to the pomp and circumstance surrounding the funeral of former Serbian President Slobodan Milošević in 2006. Mladić, who was convicted of genocide and war crimes in 2017, was a key figure in the Bosnian War, which lasted from 1992 to 1995. His funeral is seen as a test of Serbia's commitment to reconciliation and its ability to balance national sentiment with international pressure.

Mladić's burial is expected to be attended by thousands of people, including politicians, veterans, and civilians, who have come to pay their respects to the deceased. The event has sparked controversy, with some calling for the government to take stronger action to prevent the glorification of war criminals. Brussels, which has been pressuring Serbia to take a tougher stance on war crimes, has said that any attempts to honor Mladić would be "incompatible with the values on which the EU is based". The EU has long been critical of Serbia's handling of war crimes cases, and has imposed sanctions on individuals and entities linked to the former Yugoslav regime.

The funeral is also seen as a challenge for Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić, who has faced criticism for his handling of the war crimes issue. Vučić has been accused of trying to downplay the significance of Mladić's crimes, and of using the funeral as a way to boost national pride and distract from the country's ongoing economic woes. Despite the controversy, Vučić has vowed to respect the wishes of Mladić's family and to allow the funeral to proceed without incident.

Mladić's funeral has significant implications for the data sources that track war crimes and human rights abuses. Companies like Thomson Reuters and Bloomberg have been critical of Serbia's handling of war crimes cases, and have called for greater transparency and accountability. The funeral is also a reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by researchers and analysts in the field, who must navigate complex and often conflicting information sources in order to provide accurate and unbiased assessments of human rights abuses.

The funeral is also a test of the Data Sources' ability to adapt to changing circumstances and to respond to new challenges. As the field continues to evolve, Data Sources must be able to provide accurate and reliable information on a range of topics, from human rights abuses to economic trends. The funeral of Mladić is a reminder that the field is not just about providing information, but about providing context and analysis that can help to inform decision-making and drive policy change.

The funeral of Mladić is part of a larger pattern of attempts to downplay the significance of war crimes in the Balkans. In recent years, there has been a growing trend towards nationalism and populism in the region, which has led to increased tensions between Serbia and its neighbors. The funeral is also a reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by the EU in its efforts to promote reconciliation and accountability in the region.