Ratko Mladic to be buried with state honors in Belgrade on September 7

September 7, 2026 at 01:51 PM2 min

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Former Bosnian Serb Army commander Ratko Mladic, convicted of genocide and crimes against humanity, will be buried with state honors in Belgrade on September 7. His coffin is lying in state at the Church of St. Luke, where thousands have gathered. The funeral follows days of tributes across Serbia and Republika Srpska, even as international officials condemn the glorification of the convicted war criminal.

Key Facts

Ratko Mladic died on August 27 in The Hague at the age of 84 while serving a life sentence for genocide and crimes against humanity.
Mladic will be buried at Topcider cemetery in Belgrade on September 7.
In 2017, the UN-backed International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia convicted Mladic of genocide, crimes against humanity, and violations of the laws or customs of war.
Mladic's forces carried out the 1995 Srebrenica massacre, killing more than 8,000 Bosniak men and boys.
On September 4, EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos canceled a planned visit to Serbia after a government plane flew Mladic's body to Belgrade.

Funeral Arrangements

The coffin containing Mladic's body is lying in state at the Church of St. Luke in Belgrade. Several thousand people have gathered outside while a liturgy is held inside. Veterans of the former Bosnian Serb Army are taking turns to stand beside the coffin. Serbian Justice Minister Nenad Vujic previously said that Mladic would be buried with the highest state honors. Nearby streets have been closed to traffic, while police officers are stationed at intersections.

Tributes and Reactions

In the days since his death, tributes have been held across Serbia and Republika Srpska. A banner describing Mladic as a “hero” has been put up on a wall near the Church of St. Luke. A post on X shared by the Red Star Belgrade soccer team showed fans unfurling a tifo with a portrait of Mladic next to a banner with the words "Direction Potocari." Early on September 7, four buses carrying demobilized members of the former Bosnian Serb Army left Banja Luka for Belgrade. The transportation was organized by the Republika Srpska Veterans' Organization.

International Condemnation

On September 4, EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos canceled a planned visit to Serbia after a government plane flew Mladic's body to Belgrade. Soldiers carried his Serbian flag-draped coffin from the aircraft. Politicians in the United States and Europe have condemned the public glorification of Mladic in Serbia. Under Bosnia's criminal code, public denial of genocide and glorification of convicted war criminals are punishable by up to five years in prison.