Sixty members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), representing 23 member states and four political groups, have condemned what they describe as the state glorification of former Bosnian Serb military commander Ratko Mladić, who was convicted of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes and sentenced to life imprisonment. His conviction and sentence were upheld on appeal in 2021.
The written declaration was initiated by British MP Alicia Kearns and published on September 30, 2026. In it, the signatories condemn attempts to deny or glorify the crimes for which Mladić was convicted, including the Srebrenica genocide, the siege of Sarajevo, ethnic cleansing in several municipalities, detention camps, widespread sexual violence and the taking of UN personnel hostage.
Kearns described the glorification as an attack on survivors, arguing that state recognition of Mladić sends a message that crimes committed against victims can be presented as a source of national pride. The declaration also distinguishes private mourning from official state honors, stating that while private mourning is a family’s right, state honors are a different matter.
The declaration also criticizes the involvement of Serbian state institutions in ceremonies surrounding Mladić’s death, including official symbols, military structures and state officials. The signatories call for the victims of crimes committed by forces under Mladić’s command to be remembered and for efforts to combat denial and glorification of convicted war criminals.
The United Nations has separately raised concerns over public glorification of Mladić in Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide Chaloka Beyani said on September 9 that large-scale public commemoration involving political figures and official ceremonial elements was “deeply inappropriate” and could relativize serious crimes under international law.
The UN also confirmed that Mladić died on August 26, 2026, while serving a life sentence. His convictions for genocide, crimes against humanity and violations of the laws or customs of war were affirmed by the Appeals Chamber of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals on June 8, 2021.
