Opposition Parties React to Ratko Mladic's Death

The death of Ratko Mladic, the former commander of the Bosnian Serb Army and a convicted war criminal, has elicited starkly different responses from opposition parties in Serbia. Mladic died at age 84 while serving a life sentence in The Hague for genocide and other war crimes committed during the Bosnian War.

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Mladic’s death does not put an end to the issue of accountability for the war crimes that have been committed.

The Green-Left Front (ZLF) stated that Mladic's death does not absolve anyone of accountability for the war crimes committed. The party emphasized the lasting obligation to remember the truth about the Srebrenica genocide and other atrocities. The ZLF urged state institutions to prevent any glorification of Mladic, expressing solidarity with victims' families who they said were denied justice for decades.

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there remains a lasting obligation to ensure that the truth about the Srebrenica genocide and other war crimes is never forgotten or downplayed.

In contrast, Milos Jovanovic, leader of the New Democratic Party of Serbia (New DSS), offered condolences to Mladic's family and the Serb people. Jovanovic described Mladic as having led the struggle for the freedom of the Serb people, asserting that he would not be forgotten. He suggested that the defense of Republika Srpska and the continued celebration of Mladic's name by new generations signify a truth that transcends the accusations from The Hague.

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Rather than paying tribute to him, the ZLF calls on state institutions to prevent any attempt to glorify a convicted war criminal in the public sphere.

The Party of Freedom and Justice (SSP) issued a statement asserting that "no one who has committed a crime can be a role model for future generations." The SSP contrasted those who allegedly protected Mladic and sought to rename public spaces after him with those who fulfilled Serbia's international obligations by arresting and extraditing him to the Hague Tribunal. The party noted that Mladic's conviction cast a shadow over Serbia and the Serb people, who have historically been victims and taken pride in their soldiers' honor.

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Mladic had led the struggle for the freedom of the Serb people, adding that he would not be forgotten.