Bosnian Serb war criminal Mladić buried in Belgrade without state honors

Belgrade is set to host the burial of former Bosnian Serb commander Ratko Mladić on Monday, an event expected to draw thousands of mourners. The ceremony will proceed without the participation of serving officials, artillery salutes, or any ceremonial military presence, a departure from traditional state funerals. Mladić, convicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia for war crimes and genocide, remains a polarising figure in the region, and his interment has prompted heightened security measures and diplomatic scrutiny.

The European Union has warned that any public glorification of Mladić would be “incompatible with the values on which the EU path is built,” reiterating its stance on accountability for war crimes. While Serbian authorities have limited official involvement, the large turnout underscores persistent domestic support for the former general, contrasting with broader international expectations for reconciliation and adherence to EU standards. The burial proceeds amid ongoing debates over Serbia’s EU accession prospects and the legacy of the 1990s conflicts.