Serbian Tabloid Editor Claims Ratko Mladić Was 'Murdered,' Ignites Controversy

The death of Ratko Mladić, the former Bosnian Serb army commander convicted of genocide and war crimes, has ignited controversy in Serbian media, with one prominent tabloid editor publishing a provocative theory.

Mladić, who was serving a life sentence for his role in the 1990s Bosnian War, died at the age of 80 in a detention hospital where he had been receiving palliative care due to his deteriorating health. His conviction by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) included genocide in Srebrenica and other crimes against humanity.

While official Belgrade has remained silent, the Serbian media landscape presented a divided picture. State broadcaster RTS factually recounted Mladić's military career and conviction, while the Tanjug agency noted he was seen as a 'great patriot' by most Serbs and a 'war criminal' by Bosniaks. The agency also highlighted that Mladić's family and lawyers had repeatedly sought his temporary release for medical treatment in Serbia, but these requests were denied.

Adding to the charged atmosphere, Dragan J. Vučićević, editor-in-chief of the tabloid Informer, published an article claiming the real news was not Mladić's death, but that he was 'murdered.' This assertion, published by a media outlet closely aligned with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, has drawn significant criticism and further polarized discussions surrounding Mladić's legacy and the circumstances of his death.