- Former Bosnian Serb military leader Ratko Mladic, known as the Butcher of Bosnia for his role in the 1995 Srebrenica massacre, will be given a funeral with military and state honours, Serbian Justice Minister Nenad Vujic said Friday.
- Serbian Justice Minister Nenad Vujic confirmed that Mladic "will receive all the military and state honours to which he is entitled".
- Serbian officials await details on when authorities in The Hague will release the body, with the minister stating, "We are ready to leave for The Hague as soon as we learn what the next steps are."
Ratko Mladic, infamous for orchestrating the 1995 Srebrenica massacre, died in The Hague while serving a life sentence for genocide and war crimes. Serbian Justice Minister Nenad Vujic confirmed that Mladic will receive military and state honours at his funeral, stating, "It is certain that General Mladic will receive all the military and state honours to which he is entitled, as far as the state is concerned," during an interview with K1 broadcaster.12345
Mladic's death follows a series of health issues, including multiple strokes, and he was serving a life sentence for his role in the Bosnian War, which resulted in approximately 100,000 deaths and 2.2 million displaced individuals. Serbian officials are currently awaiting the release of his body from The Hague, with Vujic stating, "We are ready to leave for The Hague as soon as we learn what the next steps are," indicating the government's preparedness to honor Mladic posthumously.
The decision to grant Mladic state honors has sparked controversy, given his notorious legacy as the 'Butcher of Bosnia', a title earned due to his involvement in one of the worst atrocities in Europe since World War II. His funeral arrangements reflect ongoing divisions in Serbian society regarding the legacy of the Bosnian War and the figures associated with it.
“Mladic, known as the 'Butcher of Bosnia' for his role in the 1995 Srebrenica massacre, will receive full military honours, Vujic told K1 broadcaster. Serbian officials await The Hague's release of the body, with Vujic saying, 'We are ready to leave for The Hague as soon as we learn what the next steps are.'”
