Thousands Attend Mladić Funeral Amid EU Condemnation

Ratko Mladić, the former Bosnian Serb commander convicted of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity during the 1990s Bosnian war, was buried in Belgrade after dying at 84 while serving a life sentence. Thousands attended the ceremony at St. Luke Church, where his coffin was displayed with military insignia, guarded by soldiers and honored with a military-style procession. Serbian ministers, Orthodox Church leaders and prominent Serb nationalists paid tribute, reflecting Mladić’s continued status as a hero among many Serbs despite his responsibility for atrocities including the Srebrenica massacre and the siege of Sarajevo. President Aleksandar Vučić did not attend and said the ceremony followed the family’s wishes, while Serbian officials rejected accusations that the state was glorifying Mladić. EU officials condemned the honors as incompatible with European values, and EU enlargement commissioner Marta Kos canceled a planned visit to Serbia amid criticism of the country’s stalled membership aspirations.