Serbian Actress Dropped From Series After Appearing to Praise War Criminal Ratko Mladić

Lidija Vukićević had not filmed a single scene in “Bos il’ Hadžija,” but her involvement ended after she appeared to endorse a social media tribute to Ratko Mladić.

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Anyone who in any way insults the people in the countries where we operate will no longer work with us. That is why we decided to thank this person for their cooperation.

The Serbian actress had been in Sarajevo preparing for the series, directed by Enver Puška. She posted photographs from locations around the city, including Wilson’s Promenade, giving the impression that production was already well underway.

At the same time, beneath a video dedicated to Mladić, she posted emojis representing heartbreak, prayer and approval. The video carried the message: “General, you will live forever! The bridge over the Drina has shone.” It had been recorded during a January 9, 2024 celebration of Republika Srpska’s unconstitutional day.

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I love you, man.

Saša Mirković, owner of Hype TV production, confirmed that the cooperation had been terminated. He said the company would no longer work with anyone who insulted people in countries where it operates. Although he initially did not name Vukićević, a later exchange in the comments removed the ambiguity. After the actress wrote, “I love you, man,” Mirković replied, “I love you too, but rules are rules.”

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I love you too, but rules are rules.

The decision followed strong public anger in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Social media users called for a boycott, while a criminal complaint was filed with the country’s Prosecutor’s Office under Article 145a of the Criminal Code, which covers provoking national, racial and religious hatred, discord and intolerance. A Facebook appeal demanded that the actress be removed and that the production publicly address the case, using the ultimatum: “No termination of cooperation, no viewing.”

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No termination of cooperation, no viewing.