Belgrade: Thousands of people gathered in Belgrade for the funeral of former Bosnian Serb military commander Ratko Mladic, who died while serving a life sentence for war crimes. The funeral attracted large crowds and once again brought attention to the deep divisions surrounding Mladic’s legacy.
The funeral was held at an Orthodox church in Belgrade. Serbian flags were displayed around the area, while military-style ceremonies were also seen during the event. Mladic’s coffin was carried through crowded streets with soldiers and a brass band accompanying the procession.
Many people gathered along the route and some chanted Mladic’s name. For some in Serbia, he continues to be viewed as a military figure who defended Serb interests during the wars that followed the breakup of Yugoslavia.
However, Mladic’s legacy is viewed very differently by victims and survivors of the Bosnian War. He was convicted of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes by an international tribunal.
One of the most serious crimes linked to Mladic was the 1995 Srebrenica massacre. More than 8,000 Bosniak Muslim men and boys were killed after Bosnian Serb forces took control of the area. The massacre is recognised as genocide by international courts.
Mladic was also convicted for his role in the siege of Sarajevo. The years-long siege caused widespread destruction and the deaths of thousands of people. Around 10,000 people were killed during the siege, including civilians.
Despite these convictions, Mladic remains a controversial and admired figure among some Serbian nationalists. His supporters have rejected the accusations against him and continue to portray him as a hero.
The funeral drew criticism from European officials. EU representatives said the public celebration of Mladic risked glorifying a person who had been convicted of some of the most serious crimes committed during the Balkan wars.
Strong Reaction From Bosnia
The funeral also caused anger in neighbouring Bosnia and Herzegovina, particularly among survivors and families of those killed during the war.
Some Bosnian telecommunications companies blocked broadcasts of the funeral. The Bosnian government also withdrew most of its embassy staff from Belgrade as a sign of protest.
For survivors of the Srebrenica massacre, the public honouring of Mladic was especially painful. A mother who lost family members during the massacre expressed anger at the way he was treated during the funeral. She described him as a butcher and said he should not be remembered as a hero.
The strong reactions from both Serbia and Bosnia show how difficult it remains for the region to deal with the legacy of the Balkan wars.
The conflicts that followed the breakup of Yugoslavia in the 1990s left tens of thousands of people dead and displaced millions. Many families are still searching for justice and answers about relatives who were killed or disappeared.
Mladic’s funeral has therefore become more than a private farewell. It has reopened painful memories and highlighted the very different views about the war that continue to exist across the Balkans.
For his supporters, Mladic remains a symbol of Serbian nationalism. For survivors and victims’ families, he represents the violence and suffering of the Bosnian War.
The large gathering in Belgrade and the strong criticism from Bosnia and European officials show that disagreements over Mladic’s legacy remain deeply rooted. His funeral has once again brought the unresolved memories of the Balkan wars into the public spotlight.