Serbian President Criticizes UN Court After Ratko Mladic's Death in Custody

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić on Friday denounced the United Nations war crimes tribunal in The Hague for refusing to grant an early release to former Bosnian Serb army commander Ratko Mladic, who died at age 84 while serving a life sentence for war crimes. Vučić said the decision was "uncivilized behavior" and suggested the court preferred Mladic to die in prison.

Mladic’s family and the Serbian government had repeatedly asked for his release on humanitarian grounds, citing his age and health. The tribunal’s president, Judge Graciela Gatti Santana, rejected the latest request on Aug. 20, noting that Mladic was receiving comprehensive medical care and had regular family visits.

The International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals, which oversees the legacy of the former Yugoslavia war crimes courts, opened an inquiry into the circumstances of Mladic’s death and sent a judge to the detention centre. The Mechanism said it would not disclose the cause of death until the inquiry is complete and that Dutch authorities would not conduct a criminal investigation or autopsy.

In Belgrade, Vučić said the government had no information on when Mladic’s body might be released and that the family would decide on the burial location. He added that Serbia would help ensure a dignified burial if the family wishes the interment to take place on Serbian territory, but he did not confirm reports of a state funeral.

Bosnian Serb residents held vigils for Mladic, describing him as a hero, while families of victims of the 1995 Srebrenica massacre expressed satisfaction that he died in prison after being convicted for his role in the atrocities.