Reporter's Notebook: The two faces of General Ratko Mladic
Three decades after the Bosnian War, he remains a hero to many in Republika Srpska even after his genocide conviction.
In Banja Luka, the capital of Republika Srpska, a smaller memorial appeared in the center, honoring the late Gen. Ratko Mladic. The memorial featured a photo of the former commander of the Bosnian Serb Army, surrounded by floral wreaths. Mladic, who died at the age of 84 on August 27, had been serving a life sentence imposed by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) for his role in the Bosnian War.
However, reactions to his death in Republika Srpska differed greatly from the international condemnation that followed.
The reactions in Republika Srpska often expressed Mladic as a hero who defended Serb rights during the wars accompanying the breakup of Yugoslavia. Many residents in Banja Luka shared this view, describing Mladic as a symbol of Serb identity. This sentiment was evident when thousands gathered outside a Serbian Orthodox church in Belgrade ahead of Mladic's burial, carrying Serbian flags and photographs of the former military leader.
Despite the contrast with the international condemnation, Mladic's legacy as a defender of Serbs persisted among the younger generation in Republika Srpska.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
