The European Union and the United Kingdom have voiced strong disapproval following the funeral of Ratko Mladic in Belgrade, Serbia. The ceremony, held on Monday, drew thousands of attendees, including at least six Serbian government ministers, and was widely criticized for glorifying the convicted war criminal.
Mladic, who commanded the Army of Republika Srpska during the 1992-1995 war in Bosnia, died last month in The Hague while serving a life sentence. He was convicted in 2017 for his role in the July 1995 Srebrenica massacre, in which approximately 8,000 Bosniak men and boys were killed. Often referred to as the “Butcher of Bosnia” by international media, Mladic is viewed as a war hero by many Serbian nationalists across Serbia and Bosnia.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa described the presence of senior Serbian officials and elements of official support at the funeral as “deeply regrettable.” In statements posted on X, they emphasized that the event demonstrated a failure to confront a dark chapter in Europe’s recent history and contradicted the fundamental values underpinning Serbia’s path toward EU membership.
A European Commission spokesperson told the German news agency DPA that the bloc is currently evaluating its next steps. EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas stressed that Serbia’s accession to the European Union requires an unequivocal commitment to European values and historical truth. Serbia first applied for EU membership in 2009, and its candidacy was confirmed by the European Council in 2012.
The United Kingdom also responded firmly, summoning Serbia’s charge d’affaires. A statement from the British Foreign Office noted that Mladic, as a military commander, oversaw some of the worst crimes committed in Europe since World War II. The UK government expressed solidarity with Mladic’s victims and their families, asserting that they deserve respect, compassion, and accountability rather than efforts to rewrite proven history.
The British government added that the glorification of a convicted war criminal directly undermines trust, fuels division, and is incompatible with reconciliation processes in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the broader region.
In a significant diplomatic reaction, neighboring Bosnia expelled two Serbian diplomats, accusing Belgrade of crossing a “red line” with its display of reverence for Mladic. Bosnian Foreign Minister Elmedin Konakovic stated that Serbia had violated boundaries not only on the day of the funeral but also in the days leading up to it. Konakovic announced plans to withdraw most staff from the Bosnian Embassy in Belgrade, aiming to reduce bilateral ties to “the lowest possible level.”
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic did not attend the funeral, although his son Danilo was present. Vucic rejected allegations that the state was glorifying Mladic, arguing that the event was organized by Mladic’s family rather than the government. However, the presence of soldiers, government ministers, and the use of a state plane to transport Mladic’s body to Belgrade have intensified public outrage.
The controversial funeral takes place against a backdrop of political tension in Serbia, which is preparing for snap elections next month. The country has experienced a political crisis over the past two years, initially triggered by the collapse of a concrete canopy at a railway station in Novi Sad.
Sixteen years after the conviction, and still no real accountability in Serbia. It is truly shameful.
Bosnia reducing embassy staff is a strong move. Does this signal a new escalation in regional tensions?
The presence of government ministers makes this so much worse than a simple family affair. Disgraceful.