Thousands attend Bosnian Serb war criminal's funeral

Belgrade witnessed a somber gathering as thousands paid their respects to Ratko Mladic, the Bosnian Serb war criminal, during his funeral on September 7, 2023. Mladic, who had been serving a life sentence for genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity committed during the 1990s Bosnian conflict, passed away at the age of 84 in The Hague.

His funeral, held at the St. Luka church instead of the grander Saint Sava temple, drew a crowd estimated at thousands, including Serbian ministers, the ambassador of Russia, and former Bosnian Serb president Milorad Dodik.

The funeral sparked international outrage, with the European Union condemning the event as an instance of glorifying a war criminal and undermining fundamental European values. Serbian Justice Minister Nenad Vujic had initially proposed military and state honors for Mladic, but President Aleksandar Vucic later softened this decision, stating that the service was in line with the family's wishes.

Mourners, many of whom were war veterans and young men, lined the streets as Mladic's coffin was carried to the nearby Topcider cemetery in a slow procession. The head of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Porfirije, delivered a sermon at the church service, expressing gratitude towards Mladic while acknowledging the atrocities he was responsible for.

Crowds chanted 'Hero! Hero!' in his honor, as Serbian nationalism continued to portray Mladic as a revered figure, particularly in the Republika Srpska region where his death led to vigils.