Serbia to ensure Ratko Mladić's burial is dignified, family's wishes respected

Serbia is committed to ensuring a dignified burial for Ratko Mladić, the former commander of the Army of Republika Srpska convicted of genocide. Justice Minister Nenad Vujić stated that the country will fulfill all requests from Mladić's family regarding the funeral arrangements.

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Serbia is ready to fulfill whatever the family asks for. So, regarding the burial, we will do everything to ensure it is conducted with dignity and in accordance with the family's wishes.

"Serbia is ready to fulfill whatever the family asks for. So, regarding the burial, we will do everything to ensure it is conducted with dignity and in accordance with the family's wishes," Vujić said.

The minister also noted that Serbia is in communication with the Hague Mechanism for further information on when Mladić's body can be expected. "Our embassy is in communication with the Hague Mechanism," he added, emphasizing that neither Serbia nor the family has more details on the timeline or next steps.

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Our embassy is in communication with the Hague Mechanism.

Vujić recalled that information about Mladić's critical health condition had been received since mid-August, with doctors at the Mechanism predicting he had only two weeks left. Based on this, Serbia, in agreement with the family, initiated procedures for early release on humanitarian grounds. "We insisted on humanitarian principles all along," Vujić stated, highlighting that they had warned about the dire situation based on medical documentation.

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We insisted on humanitarian principles all along.

Furthermore, Vujić expressed concerns about Mladić's treatment protocols, suggesting they may have been interrupted. "We are now asking for the issue of Mladić's treatment protocols to be included in the investigation. Because it is the same as WHO protocols which state that therapy should not be interrupted and should be continued. And we know that they stopped giving him certain things and that's why we expect answers," he said. Serbia has provided all necessary guarantees for Mladić to be transferred to Serbia for treatment.

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We are now asking for the issue of Mladić's treatment protocols to be included in the investigation. Because it is the same as WHO protocols which state that therapy should not be interrupted and should be continued. And we know that they stopped giving him certain things and that's why we expect answers.