IRMCT confirms handover of Ratko Mladic’s remains

The International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals confirmed that Ratko Mladic’s remains were handed over to his recognized next of kin on Thursday.

The handover took place at Rotterdam The Hague Airport at about 3 p.m., according to a statement from the mechanism. It said the transfer followed Rule 72 of the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, known as the Nelson Mandela Rules, which calls for a deceased prisoner’s remains to be returned to the next of kin as soon as reasonably possible.

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The International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals today handed over the remains of Mr. Ratko Mladić to his recognized next of kin, consistent with past practice and Rule 72 of the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (Nelson Mandela Rules), which provides for the return of the remains of a deceased prisoner to the next of kin as soon as reasonably possible.

The mechanism said Mladic’s family alone would be responsible for repatriating the remains and deciding their final destination. It added that it understood the remains had been taken to the Republic of Serbia.

The statement also recalled UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ expression of solidarity with the victims, survivors and families affected by the crimes for which Mladic was convicted. It reiterated condemnation of actions that glorify people convicted by international courts of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.

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Responsibility for the repatriation and final destination of the remains rests solely with the family of Mr. Mladic.