EU Denounces Tributes to Ratko Mladic in Belgrade

A ceremony was held in Belgrade to honor Ratko Mladic, a Serbian war criminal convicted of genocide in Bosnia, prior to his burial in the Serbian capital. The event was attended by military personnel, government officials, and family members. The European Union denounced the glorification of Mladic, and EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos canceled a planned visit to Belgrade in response. While the Serbian government arranged the repatriation of the coffin and military honors, President Aleksandar Vucic avoided attending the celebrations, citing a visit from the president of Uzbekistan.

Supporters at the event described Mladic as a hero who defended the Serbian people and fought terrorism. Conversely, survivors of the Srebrenica genocide, such as Nedzad Avdic, characterized the tributes as a manifestation of nationalism and noted that Mladic was part of a criminal enterprise funded by Belgrade. Political analysts suggest that President Vucic is balancing his image between the West and a domestic nationalist base ahead of potential elections.

Reporting on the event varied by political lean. Center-leaning coverage focused on the official condemnation by the EU and the fact that a convicted war criminal was being honored. Center-right coverage provided more detailed perspectives from both sides, including the testimonies of genocide survivors and the views of Mladic's supporters, while analyzing the strategic political motivations of the Serbian presidency.