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Serbia accused of ‘glorifying’ convicted war criminal Ratko Mladić ahead of funeral
NBC News • • world
Key Points:
- The European Union’s Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos canceled a planned visit to Serbia due to the "glorification" of convicted war criminal Ratko Mladić following his death, stating such actions conflict with EU values.
- Mladić, convicted of genocide and war crimes including the 1995 Srebrenica massacre, was flown to Belgrade for burial with full state honors, sparking outrage across the Balkans and concerns about ethnic divisions.
- Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić defended the funeral plans and criticized Kos’s cancellation, while thousands of Serbs held vigils honoring Mladić, highlighting Serbia’s defiance over its wartime role despite EU membership aspirations.
- European officials, including the Council of Europe’s Human Rights Commissioner and Belgium’s Foreign Minister, condemned the glorification of Mladić, calling it disrespectful to victims and urging Serbia to counter such actions.
- Calls are increasing for the European People’s Party to sever ties with Vučić’s Serbian Progressive Party due to its association with glorifying convicted war criminals, amid stalled EU accession talks linked to Serbia’s political stance and governance issues.
