Victims condemn Serbia's glorification of Ratko Mladić as Vucic brands UN court 'uncivilised' over his death




Bosnian genocide victims have spoken out against the glorification of Ratko Mladić in Serbia after the 'Butcher of Bosnia' died in prison at 84, warning his ideology remains "shockingly pervasive" across the Balkans. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic inflamed tensions by accusing the UN war crimes court of "uncivilised behaviour" for refusing to release Mladić before his death. Džemil Hodžić, whose 16-year-old brother Amel was shot dead by a Sarajevo sniper in May 1995, said Mladić was "a horror creature" who every child in the city knew by name. Bosnian Serbs held candlelit vigils for Mladić, with supporters insisting he "would not touch anyone, child, no one."
Mladić was convicted of genocide in 2017 over the Srebrenica massacre, in which at least 8,000 Muslim men and boys were killed.
The UN court rejected Mladić's final humanitarian release request just one week before his death, citing "comprehensive and compassionate medical care" in custody.
Serbia's proposed state honours for Mladić have been condemned as "an outrage", deepening the diplomatic row over his legacy.
