Serbia bids farewell to convicted war criminal Ratko Mladić as EU questions membership ambitions

The funeral at St. Lukas Church in Belgrade drew large crowds who paid respects to Mladić, who died at age 84 while serving a life sentence at a UN prison in The Hague. He was found guilty by a UN war crimes tribunal for orchestrating the killing of approximately 8,000 Bosniak Muslim men and boys in Srebrenica, described as Europe's worst atrocity since World War Two.

A Serbian government minister had initially announced a state funeral, but those plans were changed after objections from European leaders. On Monday, the EU denounced the "glorification" of Mladić, with the event raising international alarm over Serbia's democratic trajectory. The Guardian reported that the hero's funeral for the convicted war criminal has raised questions about Serbia's EU membership plan.

The event highlighted the enduring divisions in the Balkans, where many Serbs view Mladić as a national hero, while Bosniaks and the international community remember him as the Butcher of Bosnia.

Why This Matters

The hero's funeral for a convicted genocidaire exposes deep divisions in Serbian society and challenges the country's EU integration aspirations.
It risks inflaming ethnic tensions in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where memories of the 1990s wars remain raw.
The EU's response may influence Serbia's accession negotiations, which require progress on reconciliation and rule of law.

Background

Ratko Mladić was the commander of the Bosnian Serb army during the Bosnian War (1992–1995). In 2017, the UN's International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia found him guilty of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity, including the Srebrenica massacre. He died in August 2026 at age 84. His funeral, initially planned as a state funeral, was downgraded after EU objections.

Key Perspectives

Mourners and Serbian nationalists: They view Mladić as a defender of Serb interests during the breakup of Yugoslavia, and his funeral as a rightful tribute. European Union and international community: They condemn the glorification of a convicted war criminal, seeing it as a setback for Serbia's commitment to European values. Victims and Bosniaks: The funeral is a painful reminder of unaddressed atrocities and a lack of justice, with the hero's treatment seen as an insult.

What to Watch

Official EU statements and potential consequences for Serbia's accession negotiations.
Reactions from Bosnia and other Balkan states, including possible protests or diplomatic tensions.
Whether Serbian authorities take any steps to distance themselves from the event or reaffirm commitment to reconciliation.

ZOTPAPER