Journalist Recalls Defiant Gesture to Ratko Mladić at War Crimes Trial

Journalist Dženana Karup Druško has shared a powerful personal account of her encounter with former Bosnian Serb military leader Ratko Mladić during the first day of his war crimes trial at The Hague. Mladić, convicted of genocide and crimes against humanity, died recently at the age of 84.

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It was my very clear message of how much I despise him.

Druško, positioned close to Mladić in the courtroom, described observing his reactions as prosecutors presented evidence. She noted his initial cold demeanor, but stated that his composure shifted when the prosecution began detailing the atrocities committed in Srebrenica. Amidst audible reactions of grief from the audience, Druško claims Mladić looked towards the public gallery and cynically made a throat-slitting gesture.

This act, interpreted as a simulation of killing, provoked strong reactions among victims and their families, leading the judge to call a recess. As the courtroom cleared, Druško recounts a tense moment where Mladić, walking towards the exit, pointed at her and gave a thumbs-up. Shocked by his perceived impunity and the earlier gesture, Druško, despite potential repercussions, moved slightly away from the judges' view and responded by showing Mladić her middle finger.

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I didn't want to lower my gaze, not in front of such a criminal.

"It was my very clear message of how much I despise him," Druško stated, acknowledging that her lawyers recognized the potential consequences of her action, which could have led to her expulsion from the court. She felt compelled to react, unable to simply overlook Mladić's behavior, especially given his past actions and the context of the Srebrenica genocide.

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The man who minutes before had shown the victims of Srebrenica how he would slaughter them again.