World News
Former Bosnian Serb military commander Ratko Mladić dies in prison
Victims' advocates and international officials condemned ongoing glorifyings of Mladić following news of his death, while Serbian leadership announced state military honors for his funeral.
The short version
- Ratko Mladić, the former Bosnian Serb general convicted of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity, died in prison at age 83 or 84.
- During the 1990s conflict in Bosnia, forces under Mladić's command carried out the Srebrenica genocide and the siege of Sarajevo.
- The Serbian government announced plans to bury Mladić with state and military honors, drawing public concern and condemnation from victims' groups and UN leadership.
- Advocates and survivors warned that genocide denial and Mladić's ideology remain widespread across the region.
Key facts
- Ratko Mladić died in prison on Thursday while serving a life sentence for genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.[The Guardian]
- As commander of the Bosnian Serb army, Mladić oversaw forces responsible for the 1995 Srebrenica massacre of at least 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys, as well as the 1,425-day siege of Sarajevo.[The Guardian]
- The Serbian government announced Mladić will be buried with state and military honors.[The Guardian]
- The office of UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged authorities to refrain from denying war crimes or glorifying those responsible.[The Guardian]
- Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik praised Mladić, stating he defended Serbs during his command.[The Guardian]
What remains uncertain
- Mladić's exact age at death is reported as either 83 or 84 due to conflicting family and official records.[The Guardian]