**General Mladic Buried in Serbia Without State Honors**
Thousands of supporters gathered in Belgrade on Monday to pay their final respects to Ratko Mladic, the former Bosnian Serb military commander, during a funeral that was marked by the absence of formal state or military honors. Mladic, who commanded Bosnian Serb forces during the Bosnian War from 1992 to 1995, was buried beside his daughter at a cemetery near the Church of St. Luke, where his coffin was displayed prior to the service.
Mladic, who passed away on August 27 at the age of 84 while serving a life sentence in The Hague, was convicted in 2017 by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) for genocide, particularly for his role in the targeting of Bosnian Muslims, Croats, and other groups during the conflict that led to the disintegration of Yugoslavia. His remains were returned to Serbia last week on a government plane, and Serbian soldiers carried the coffin from the aircraft, which was escorted through the capital.
While Mladic's funeral was attended by a large number of supporters, the event was devoid of state honors, a decision that followed mixed signals from Serbian officials. Justice Minister Nenad Vujic had previously indicated that Mladic might receive state honors, but the final arrangements did not include any military presence, artillery salutes, or attendance from senior government officials.
The absence of formal honors did not diminish the fervor of Mladic's supporters, who displayed Serbian flags and photographs of the former general. Public tributes to Mladic have extended beyond the funeral, with displays of support surfacing in football stadiums. During a recent derby match between rival teams Crvena Zvezda (Red Star) and Partizan Belgrade, fans from both sides chanted Mladic's name and unveiled a giant tifo featuring his image. This led to UEFA imposing fines on both clubs for the displays of support.
Despite his conviction for war crimes, Mladic remains a controversial figure in Serbia, where some view him as a defender of the Bosnian Serb population during the war. This perception has fueled ongoing debates about the treatment of crimes committed during the Yugoslav wars, with many Serbs expressing grievances over what they perceive as unequal treatment by international courts.
The commemorations surrounding Mladic's burial have drawn criticism from European Union officials. EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos canceled a planned visit to Serbia, stating that the "glorification" of Mladic's legacy was inconsistent with the values upheld by the EU. She warned that the manner in which Serbia handled the funeral could have implications for the country's aspirations for EU membership.
In response to the criticism, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic dismissed the claims of glorification, arguing that Brussels had not provided any concrete evidence of such actions by the Serbian authorities. He characterized Kos' comments as "stupid" and suggested that it would be unreasonable to ban people from attending the funeral.
Vucic had previously expressed his intention to assist Mladic's family in arranging a "dignified" burial and criticized the Hague tribunal for not allowing Mladic to return to Serbia as his health declined. The president did not attend the funeral, citing a prior engagement with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
As Serbia navigates the complexities of its historical legacy and its relationship with the EU, the funeral of Ratko Mladic serves as a focal point for ongoing discussions about national identity, memory, and the challenges of reconciliation in the aftermath of the Yugoslav wars.