Plane carrying Ratko Mladić’s body lands in Belgrade

The body of Ratko Mladić, the former commander of the Army of Republika Srpska, arrived in Belgrade on a Serbian government plane from The Hague. The aircraft landed at Nikola Tesla Airport on Thursday.

Mladić died on Aug. 27 at age 84 while held in a detention unit in The Hague, where he was serving a life sentence. RTS reported that his son Darko, granddaughter Anastasija, Serbian Justice Minister Nenad Vujić and two of Mladić’s former wartime comrades accompanied the body.

Mladić had received a final conviction for genocide in Srebrenica, as well as war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina. He had suffered serious health problems in recent years. His family and lawyers repeatedly sought permission for him to receive treatment in Serbia, and they also asked the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals to release him early on humanitarian grounds. Those requests were rejected.

An investigation into the circumstances of his death began after he died in detention. The International Residual Mechanism previously said Judge Ian Bonomy had been assigned to conduct the inquiry. Funeral arrangements remain unknown, with Mladić’s family expected to announce the time and location later.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić previously said the state would provide the family with logistical and transport assistance and help maintain public order and security. He said security services estimated that tens of thousands of people could attend the funeral.