Mladić Funeral Sparks EU Warning Over War Criminal Glorification

The update

Thousands of people have gathered in Belgrade for the funeral of Ratko Mladić, the convicted war criminal known as the “Butcher of Bosnia.” Mladić, who died at age 84 while serving a life sentence in The Hague, received a state funeral with full military honors. Serbian government ministers attended the ceremony, and state-controlled media reported the event, though the government initially described the funeral as a private affair.

Why it matters

The funeral has triggered a diplomatic crisis for Serbia. The European Union issued a statement condemning the “glorification” of Mladić, stating that such actions contradict fundamental European values. Serbia is a candidate for EU membership, and the EU has warned that glorifying war criminals and genocide denial have no place in the EU or in EU candidate countries.

What to watch

Observers will be watching for any official response from the Serbian government regarding the EU’s condemnation. There is also the question of whether this event will impact the stalled EU membership talks with Serbia.

Sources

• bbc.co.uk — Details on the funeral, Mladić's death, and the EU statement.
• nytimes.com — Government's description of the funeral as private and media coverage.
• aljazeera.com — Confirmation of the funeral and media coverage.