Ratko Mladić was buried in Belgrade, and the EU condemned any glorification of him.
Why it matters: The burial of the convicted Bosnian Serb commander is reigniting debate over war memory in Serbia. It also puts fresh attention on Belgrade's relationship with the EU, which has tied accession to rule of law and reconciliation.
- Mladić was buried in Belgrade on Sept. 7, 2026, after dying on Aug. 27 while serving a life sentence.
- The EU said glorifying war criminals and denying genocide contradicts fundamental European values.
- The EU said that conduct has no place in the EU or in candidate countries.
- The European Commission says Serbia's membership path depends on reform, rule of law, reconciliation and good-neighborly relations.
Ratko Mladić, the former Bosnian Serb army commander convicted of genocide and crimes against humanity, was buried in Belgrade on Sept. 7 after dying on Aug. 27 while serving a life sentence at The Hague. Read the AP report on the burial
Coverage cited a large public turnout and military honors at the funeral, but those details vary by account and should be read alongside the reporting. Some Serbian media described the event in celebratory terms. DW coverage in Serbian
The European Union responded by condemning any glorification of war criminals and genocide denial. In a statement, the EEAS said such conduct "contradict[s] the most fundamental European values" and "have no place in the EU or in EU candidate countries." EEAS statement
The European Commission says Serbia's EU path is tied to reform, rule of law, reconciliation and good-neighborly relations in the Western Balkans. European Commission overview
After Mladić's death, the EU's enlargement commissioner canceled a planned visit to Serbia following criticism of the memorialization, underscoring the diplomatic strain around the case. AP report on the canceled visit
Yes, but: The dossier supports EU condemnation and a canceled visit, but it does not independently verify every claim about turnout or honors. Those details should be treated cautiously unless attributed.