War criminal Mladic’s body returns to Serbia with military honours

Belgrade, September 4 - The body of Bosnian Serb war criminal Ratko Mladic arrived in Serbia on September 4, greeted with military honors. The casket, bearing the Serbian flag, was carried from the aircraft by six soldiers who were accompanied by Mladic's son, Darko, and Serbia's Justice Minister Nenad Vujic. The body proceeded to the airport under a police escort, heading to a Belgrade military hospital.

Mladic succumbed to his ailments while incarcerated for life for genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity committed during the 1992-1995 Bosnian conflict. Pro-government media aired footage of people, predominantly young men, congregating on motorway overpasses, raising banners in Mladic's honor and igniting flares as the procession passed.

Similar outlets reported on the funeral arrangements, including a public service at a church slated for Monday, although the specifics have yet to be officially confirmed. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic had earlier stated that the state would offer "every kind of logistical and transport support" and anticipated a large turnout for the funeral.

The court mandated a thorough investigation into the circumstances of Mladic's demise, which must be concluded before his family could claim the body. EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos expressed disapproval of Mladic's burial with state honors, deeming such an act incompatible with European values and incompatible with the aspirations of EU member states.

Kos made this statement in Slovenia on Monday. Mladic, plagued by multiple strokes in recent months, was found guilty of atrocities during the Bosnian war that resulted in approximately 100,000 deaths and the displacement of 2.2 million individuals. His notoriety stemmed from his involvement in the Srebrenica massacre, widely regarded as Europe's worst atrocity since World War II.

Mladic was the emblematic figure of vicious leadership, alongside Radovan Karadzic and former Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic. Upon receiving the body, the military hospital pledged to conduct a post-mortem examination at Mladic's request and that of the Justice Minister. Dr. Ivan Lekovic, deputy head of the hospital, stated that all results, including post-mortem findings, would be promptly shared with the family and pertinent authorities.

Justice Minister Nenad Vujic affirmed that Mladic would be accorded all the military and state honors he is due. Vucic merely mentioned that the funeral would be "dignified and in accordance with the family's wishes."