Mothers of Srebrenica and Žepa: Mladić's death means court upheld its word, life sentence served

For the families of victims, the most significant aspect of Ratko Mladić's death is that the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) upheld its commitment by ensuring he served his life sentence without reduction. Kada Hotić, vice-president of the Movement of the Mothers of Srebrenica and Žepa, expressed gratitude that Mladić remained imprisoned until his death, stating, "His sentence was life, and that remains in the archives for all time."

“

I am grateful to the Hague Tribunal for keeping their word and keeping him in prison until the end of his life. His sentence was life, and that remains in the archives for all time. It would have been extremely difficult for me if they had released him early.

Hotić directly linked Mladić's decisions as the former commander of the Army of Republika Srpska to the consequences families face today, including the ongoing search for relatives in mass graves. "If he had not entered Potočari, I would not be searching for the bones of my family members today. Everything we are looking for in mass graves today was under his command," she stated.

Emir Suljagić, director of the Srebrenica Memorial Center, echoed that Mladić's death in prison, convicted of genocide and war crimes, does not alter historical evidence or erase the consequences of the genocide. "He died in prison, convicted of genocide and other the most heinous crimes, while the people he sent to their deaths did not get the chance to grow old," Suljagić remarked.

“

If he had not entered Potočari, I would not be searching for the bones of my family members today. Everything we are looking for in mass graves today was under his command.

Suljagić stressed that the crucial task following Mladić's death is the preservation of collective memory and truth. "Now the harder part of the job remains – not to allow truth, responsibility, and memory to die with him. Mladić's death is another moment in which we must decide what we will remember and, more importantly, what we will not allow to be erased," he urged.

“

His death does not change historical evidence and does not erase the consequences of genocide. Mladić's death in prison does not bring back the dead nor does it turn a war criminal into a historical figure.

Sabina Ćudić, president of the Naša stranka (Our Party), expressed satisfaction that news of Mladić's death reached her in Mrkonjić Grad, in front of a building symbolizing Bosnian statehood and the victory over fascism. She conveyed a message that fascism will always be defeated.

“

Now the harder part of the job remains – not to allow truth, responsibility, and memory to die with him. Mladić's death is another moment in which we must decide what we will remember and, more importantly, what we will not allow to be erased.