Socialists and Democrats: Vučić showed contempt for European values by glorifying Mladić

Aleksandar Vučić’s decision to involve the Serbian state in bringing Ratko Mladić’s body home and allowing a public memorial has drawn a sharp rebuke from the Socialists and Democrats, the European Parliament’s second-largest political group.

In a post on Instagram, the group described the move as unacceptable glorification of a convicted war criminal and genocide perpetrator, as well as a grave insult to his victims. It said Vučić had once again shown contempt for European values by glorifying Mladić, whom it called the “Butcher of Bosnia.”

“There is no place in the European Union for glorifying war criminals. No more appeasement. The EU must hold Vučić accountable,” the group said. It also called on the conservative European People’s Party to decide whether it would continue to keep Vučić’s party within its ranks or defend European values.

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There is no place in the European Union for glorifying war criminals. No more appeasement. The EU must hold Vučić accountable. And the conservative European People’s Party must finally decide whether it will continue to keep Vučić’s party within its ranks or stand up for European values.

The Socialists and Democrats said Mladić died in a Hague prison on Aug. 27 while serving a life sentence for genocide, crimes against humanity and other war crimes. His conviction included responsibility for the genocide in Srebrenica, the siege of Sarajevo and the taking of United Nations peacekeepers hostage.

Mladić’s body was flown from The Hague to Belgrade on a Serbian government-owned aircraft. A memorial ceremony took place at the Serbian Army House, where military personnel carried and guarded the coffin. “We stand firmly with the victims and their families, as well as with all those who still carry the scars of these crimes,” the group said.

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We stand firmly with the victims and their families, as well as with all those who still carry the scars of these crimes.