Serbia: How the funeral of Ratko Mladic is dividing a nation
As the Serbian government leaves the decision about Ratko Mladic's funeral arrangements to his family, international pressure on the country is mounting. How do Serbs feel about the matter?
The former Bosnian Serb army commander Ratko Mladic, who died last week while serving a life sentence for genocide and war crimes, arrived back in Serbia on Monday. Wreathed in the Serbian flag, a motorcade carrying Mladic's remains was greeted by crowds along the route to the Military Medical Academy, where a funeral with state honors is planned.
Mladic, convicted of atrocities in Bosnia and Herzegovina's Srebrenica genocide and other conflicts, will be buried in Belgrade by his family, though President Aleksandar Vucic stated the decision was up to the family. The funeral's grandeur has sparked controversy, with critics arguing it glorifies a convicted war criminal and neglects the victims' suffering.
Humanitarian Law Center's Jasmina Lazovic notes the widespread glorification of Mladic in Serbian culture, pointing to murals depicting him as a hero. Despite this, the issue remains contentious, with citizens divided over whether Mladic was unjustly convicted or if his crimes warrant condemnation.
Written by urgent.news from DW English (Top Stories)'s reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
