Thousands of mourners gathered outside the Church of Saint Luke in Belgrade starting at dawn to attend the funeral of Ratko Mladić, the convicted war criminal known internationally as the “Butcher of Bosnia,” according to reporting by AFP and Quotidiano.net. Attendees kissed the closed coffin while Serbian Orthodox priests recited prayers, and police blocked surrounding streets to manage the crowds, as crowds watched soldiers carry the flag-draped casket.
State Involvement and Official Absence in Belgrade
While the funeral was formally organized by the family of Mladić, the Serbian government sent an airplane last week to transport his remains to Belgrade, according to Quotidiano.net. Soldiers carried the casket, and the head of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Porfirije, presided over the ceremony. Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić did not attend the service. Vučić stated that he could not be present because of an unavoidable meeting with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who was visiting Belgrade, as reported by Quotidiano.net.
International Backlash and Regional Tensions
The public memorials have drawn sharp criticism from European officials. European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos canceled a scheduled visit to Serbia, stating that glorifying a man convicted of war crimes and genocide in Bosnia and Herzegovina is “incompatible with the values on which the path to the European Union is founded,” according to Quotidiano.net. Domestically, the displays followed joint tributes paid to Mladić by supporters of Belgrade’s two main football clubs during a city derby.
Did you know? Mladić was convicted of genocide in connection with the 1995 Srebrenica massacre during the dissolution of the ex-Yugoslavia.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who presided over the funeral of Ratko Mladić?
Patriarch Porfirije, the head of the Serbian Orthodox Church, presided over the funeral ceremony at the Church of Saint Luke in Belgrade, according to Quotidiano.net.
Why did Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić miss the service?
President Vučić did not attend because of an unavoidable meeting with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev who is visiting Belgrade, as reported by Quotidiano.net.
How has the European Union reacted to the tributes?
European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos canceled her trip to Serbia, declaring that the glorification of a man convicted of war crimes and genocide in Bosnia-Herzegovina is “incompatible with the values on which the path to the European Union is founded,” as reported by Quotidiano.net.
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