Back to today’s briefing

Story perspectives

UN orders inquiry into Ratko Mladic’s death in custody

8/28/2026

31 2 Full Breakdown

Summary

UN Judge Inquiry

UN top judge ordered a full inquiry into the circumstances of Mladic’s death.
Russian Foreign Ministry sent condolences and denounced the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) trial as politically motivated.
Serbia’s Justice Minister Nenad Vujic said he will write to The Hague requesting an investigation.
International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals announced it will conduct a standard probe of the death.

Summary

Mladic Dies

Former Bosnian Serb general Ratko Mladic died at 84 in a UN hospital in the Netherlands.
He was serving a life sentence after the ICTY convicted him of genocide and war crimes.
Serbian officials said the justice ministry will arrange his body’s transfer to Serbia.
Victims’ groups stated his death does not alter the record of the Srebrenica genocide.

Summary

Mladic Honored

Serbian Justice Minister Nenad Vujic announced that Ratko Mladic will receive all entitled military and state honors.
A memorial service for Mladic was held at the Monastery of St Nicholas on Mount Ozren, attended by officials.
Survivor Sahida Abdurahmanovic said Mladic’s death brings no closure and condemned any glorification.
Mladic’s family repeatedly asked the tribunal to transfer him to a Serbian hospital, but it rejected the request in 2024.

1 of 3

UN Judge Inquiry

UN top judge ordered a full inquiry into the circumstances of Mladic’s death.
Russian Foreign Ministry sent condolences and denounced the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) trial as politically motivated.
Serbia’s Justice Minister Nenad Vujic said he will write to The Hague requesting an investigation.
International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals announced it will conduct a standard probe of the death.

1 / 3