A 25-year-old Serbian citizen has been placed in investigative custody in Croatia after allegedly glorifying convicted Bosnian Serb war criminal Ratko Mladić in social media posts, Croatian media reported.
According to Index.hr, the man, identified as Stefan K., is temporarily living and working in Croatia as a driver. He was arrested in the Hrvatsko Zagorje region after allegedly posting videos on social media portraying Mladić as a “hero general” and liking other posts praising the former Bosnian Serb commander.
During questioning, the suspect reportedly claimed that he had posted and liked the disputed content “by accident.” Authorities did not accept the explanation and ordered his detention.
The case is part of a broader series of investigations in Croatia involving the glorification of Mladić, who was convicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes and sentenced to life imprisonment.
According to Index.hr, Croatian police have processed at least 10 people in recent days over alleged glorification of Mladić.
In the Dubrovnik area, police reportedly took action against seven people accused of sharing photographs, symbols, songs and messages honoring the convicted war criminal.
In Knin, a 56-year-old man was detained over similar conduct and fined €1,000. Zagreb police also filed a criminal complaint against a 60-year-old woman who was allegedly involved in posts glorifying Mladić, approving of or minimizing his war crimes, and inciting violence and hatred.
A citizen of Bosnia and Herzegovina was also among those investigated. Police in the Korenica area reportedly initiated proceedings against a 43-year-old Bosnian citizen over the alleged glorification of Mladić.
The cases come amid renewed scrutiny across the region of public displays honoring Mladić following his death and funeral, with authorities in Croatia taking legal action where such conduct is considered to violate laws concerning the glorification of war crimes, hate speech or incitement to violence.
