Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic has accused a U.N. court of “uncivilized behavior” for denying early release to former Bosnian Serb commander Ratko Mladic BELGRADE, Serbia -- Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic on Friday accused a war crimes U.N. court in The Hague of “uncivilized behavior” for refusing to grant an early release for the former Bosnian Serb army commander Ratko Mladic, who died Thursday at the age of 84 while serving a life sentence for his crimes. Mladic’s family and the Serbian government had requested several times that Mladic be released, citing his age and ailing health. He died a week after the U.N. rejected his latest request for release on humanitarian grounds.
He had been in custody since 2011. The ruthless warlord was one of the most notorious figures of the conflict that left more than 100,000 people dead and over 1 million homeless. More than three decades after the wars, former Balkan foes remain divided over his role.
In an Aug. 20 ruling, the president of the U.N. court that deals with the legacies of now-closed war crimes tribunals, Uruguayan Judge Graciela Gatti Santana, cited the “comprehensive and compassionate medical care” Mladic was receiving in custody “as well as the exceptional visitation regime allowing meaningful family contact” as reasons for turning down the request. Bosnian Serbs held vigils and lit candles Thursday evening for Mladic, whom they consider a hero despite his conviction. Everything else is just a bunch of lies.
He would not touch anyone, child, no one. It's all lies,” said Stojanka Visnjevac, a resident of Kalinovik, Mladic's small hometown. But the families of the victims of crimes Mladic orchestrated said his death means at least some justice for their loved ones.
Fazila Efendic, who lost several members of her family in the 1995 massacre of more than 8,000 Bosnian Muslims in Srebrenica, which is Europe's first acknowledged genocide since World War II, said it is important that Mladic died in prison. "For us, it is important that he is convicted and that he served his sentence until he died.” A U.N. Serbs under Mladic’s control also laid siege to the Bosnian capital, Sarajevo, and other cities and villages, established concentration camps for detained non-Serb civilians and enemy soldiers, and systematically killed prisoners.
Vucic said that Belgrade has no information on when Mladic’s body could be released. Vucic said Mladic’s family will decide where he would be buried. He did not confirm earlier reports that Mladic would receive a state funeral.
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