Mladic Funeral: Five Ministers, Patriarch Porfirije

Ratko Mladic was buried today at Belgrade’s Topcider Cemetery, next to his daughter Ana, with full state and military honors. The funeral service at St. Luke’s Church in Vidikovac was led by Serbian Patriarch Porfirije, joined by bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church, and five ministers from Serbia’s government attended the farewell. The burial closed out a two day cycle of mourning that began with Saturday’s commemoration at the Army Hall in Belgrade, attended, as Srpske novine previously reported, by Justice Minister Nenad Vujic and Republika Srpska President Sinisa Karan.

The body of the former commander of the Army of Republika Srpska lay in the church from 7 a.m. to noon, when the service began. A procession then escorted the coffin to Topcider Cemetery, where burial was scheduled between 1:30 and 2 p.m. In a statement, the Serbian Orthodox Church described Mladic as “an Orthodox Christian and a Serbian soldier.” Once the coffin reached the cemetery, an honor guard accompanied it to the grave, followed by a ceremonial salute and farewell speeches, according to Svetozar Andric, a member of the funeral organizing team, who had briefed the SRNA news agency beforehand.

Who among the officials attended

According to Nova.rs, the Serbian government ministers present included Bratislav Gasic (defense), Nenad Vujic (justice), Nenad Popovic (minister without portfolio), Nikola Selakovic (culture) and Darko Glisic (public investments). Mondo’s list of attendees also names Labor Minister Milica Djurdjevic Stamenkovski, whom other outlets do not mention.

Danilo Vucic, the son of Serbia’s president, was also present. Accounts differ on Aleksandar Vulin’s current role: Mondo describes him as deputy prime minister, Vreme calls him a former defense minister, while Nova.rs refers to him as a former minister and member of the Republika Srpska Senate.

From Republika Srpska, the funeral drew Milorad Dodik, Zeljka Cvijanovic and Banja Luka Mayor Drasko Stanivukovic. Also in attendance were Russia’s ambassador to Belgrade, Alexander Botsan-Kharchenko, the leader of the New DSS, Milos Jovanovic, former health minister Danica Grujicic, and Marko Kricak. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic did not attend, citing a previously scheduled meeting with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

Several thousand people gathered outside the church. Security was tightened, metal detectors were installed at the entrance, and police intervention units patrolled the surrounding area. Special transport was organized from Bratunac, Teslic and Banja Luka for people wishing to attend the farewell.

Son’s appeal and condemnation from Brussels

Ahead of the funeral, Mladic’s son Darko Mladic appeared on television to call on citizens to turn out in large numbers, while urging restraint from those closest to his father:

“I would call on all relatives, friends and admirers of my father to come and see him off peacefully and with dignity, and for everyone to refrain from any provocations and to avoid any conflicts or altercations.”

The funeral drew reactions from Brussels. EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos canceled a visit to Belgrade planned for September 10, during which she was to meet with representatives of the authorities, the opposition and civil society. Kos explained that “the glorification surrounding his death is not in line with the values on which the European path rests.” Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Michael O’Flaherty condemned the public glorification of Mladic and called on the authorities to stand against the celebration of convicted war criminals.

Ratko Mladic died on August 27, at age 84, while serving a life sentence at a detention unit in The Hague, where he had been convicted of war crimes and genocide in Srebrenica. At a press conference before the funeral, his son claimed his father died as a result of negligent treatment at the prison hospital, and appealed to citizens not to let the day of the farewell become a pretext for conflict.