Serbian funeral for convicted war commander Ratko Mladic fuels diplomatic row in the Balkans
A state funeral for Ratko Mladic was held in Belgrade with his flag‑draped coffin carried by soldiers and a service led by Patriarch Porfirije. Several Serbian ministers attended, while President Aleksandar Vucic was absent, citing a visit from Uzbekistan’s leader and sending his son and senior officials in his place. European officials condemned the ceremony and the United Kingdom summoned Serbia’s charge d’affaires. Bosnia’s foreign ministry ordered the expulsion of two Serbian diplomats after ministers took part in the funeral, heightening diplomatic tensions across the region.
How this was covered
- Coverage peaked at 7 outlets in a single hour
Why it matters
The event shows how the commemoration of a convicted war criminal can inflame regional diplomatic relations and affect Serbia’s ties with European partners.
How the sides frame it
MODERATE AGREEMENTAll camps report Mladić's death and his war-crimes convictions, but left-leaning coverage stresses regional glorification and criticism of the UN, centrist coverage stresses the factual event and the polarized reactions, while right-leaning coverage stresses his criminal label and the UN’s role.
LEFT
Left-leaning coverage highlights the reverence shown to Mladić by Bosnian Serb supporters and condemns the UN tribunal for denying a humanitarian release.
CENTER
Centrist coverage presents Mladić’s death as a factual development and outlines the divergent regional reactions and historical context.
RIGHT
Right-leaning coverage underscores Mladić’s status as a convicted war criminal, labels him the “Butcher of Bosnia,” and notes Serbian President Vucic’s criticism of the UN.
The left emphasises
- Hundreds of Bosnian Serbs honor convicted war criminal Ratko Mladić
- Serbia’s president criticizes UN court for ‘uncivilized behavior’ over release denial
- Victims’ relatives expressed satisfaction that he died in prison
The right emphasises
- Ratko Mladić, ‘Butcher of Bosnia,’ died at 84
- UN tribunal convicted him of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes
- Serbian President Vucic raps the UN court for ‘uncivilised’ behaviour
How this story developed
- Aug 27 Former Bosnian Serb General Ratko Mladic Dies at 84 While In Hague Custody
- Aug 28 Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic criticised the UN court’s handling of Mladic’s death and appealed for his humanitarian release to die in Serbia.
- Sep 3 President Vucic publicly criticised the UN tribunal for denying a request to transfer Mladic to Serbia to die.
- Sep 4 Ratko Mladić died in The Hague while serving a life sentence and his body was repatriated to Belgrade.
- Sep 4 Serbian officials confirmed a state funeral will be held for Ratko Mladić.
- Sep 5 Details of the funeral schedule, locations and ceremony format were disclosed, including a limited ceremony at the House of Serbian Armed Forces and a public service at the Church of San Luca.
- Sep 5 Hundreds gathered in Belgrade to commemorate Mladic.
- Sep 7 Mladic’s body was interred in Belgrade following the funeral.
- Sep 7 EU enlargement commissioner Marta Kos called off her planned visit to Serbia.
- Sep 9 Bosnia expelled two Serbian diplomats and the United Kingdom summoned Serbia’s charge d’affaires.
- Sep 11 President Vucic said his absence was due to a meeting with Uzbekistan’s leader, so his son and senior ministers represented him at the funeral.
