EU Warns Serbia After Ministers Attend Mladić Funeral
Thousands attended Ratko Mladić's funeral in Belgrade, Serbia, on Monday. The funeral included military honors.
Five Serbian ministers attended the funeral. Officials had earlier promised none would attend.
Mladić's coffin arrived draped in Serbia's national flag. His military medals were displayed on top.
The European Union warned Serbia not to glorify Mladić. EU leaders said convicted war criminals should never be honored.
This warning also applies to countries seeking to join the EU. EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos canceled a planned visit to Serbia.
The visit was set for September 10. She canceled it because Serbia was honoring Mladić.
Mladić was convicted of taking part in genocide during Bosnia's 1990s war. He died on August 27 2026 at age 84.
He was serving a life sentence in The Hague at the time. He was convicted of genocide and other war crimes.
Key Terms 3
- EU Enlargement Commissioner EU official who oversees countries trying to join the EU.
- The Hague City in the Netherlands that hosts an international war crimes court.
- Bosnian war 1990s conflict in Bosnia involving mass killings and genocide.