{
  "id": 5538718,
  "title": "Serbia: How the funeral of Ratko Mladic is dividing a nation",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/serbia-how-the-funeral-of-ratko-mladic-is-dividing-a-nation",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-04T11:03:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "DW English (Top Stories)",
    "slug": "dw-english-top-stories",
    "url": "https://www.dw.com/en/serbia-how-the-funeral-of-ratko-mladic-is-dividing-a-nation/a-78948890?maca=en-rss-en-top-1022-xml-mrss"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "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.",
  "summary": "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?",
  "key_points": [
    "Ratko Mladic's funeral divides Serbia, sparking controversy.",
    "Mladic, convicted war criminal, to be buried in Belgrade.",
    "Critics argue glorifying Mladic neglects victims' suffering."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "New Voice of Ukraine",
        "title": "Serbia plans Mladic state funeral as EU accession faces pressure",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/serbia-plans-mladic-state-funeral-as-eu-accession-faces-pressure",
        "published": "2026-09-04T09:04:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "DW News",
        "title": "Serbia: How the funeral of Ratko Mladic is dividing a nation",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/serbia-how-the-funeral-of-ratko-mladic-is-dividing-a-nation-5538768",
        "published": "2026-09-04T11:03:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "Serbia faces EU scrutiny over upcoming funeral of convicted war criminal Ratko Mladic",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/serbia-faces-eu-scrutiny-over-upcoming-funeral-of-convicted-war",
        "published": "2026-09-04T11:12:10.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}