Former military commander convicted over atrocities during the 1992-95 Bosnian war dies after years of deteriorating health
THE HAGUE: Former Bosnian Serb military commander Ratko Mladic, who was serving a life sentence for crimes committed during the 1992-95 war in Bosnia, has died, a United Nations official confirmed on Thursday.
The confirmation followed reports in Serbian media about the death of the former general, who was in his 80s and had suffered from serious health problems in recent years.
Mladic, widely known as the “Butcher of Bosnia”, had remained in United Nations custody since authorities arrested him in Serbia in 2011 following years on the run.
Years of Ill Health in Detention
In recent years, Mladic’s deteriorating health repeatedly required hospital treatment. Nevertheless, he remained in detention while serving the life sentence imposed following his conviction by an international tribunal.
Mladic commanded Bosnian Serb forces during the Bosnian war, one of the bloodiest conflicts to follow the breakup of Yugoslavia. The fighting killed around 100,000 people and displaced millions from their homes.
Moreover, his name became closely associated with some of the conflict’s worst atrocities, particularly the 1995 Srebrenica massacre.
Conviction for Genocide and War Crimes
International judges convicted Mladic of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. The charges included responsibility for the killing of thousands of Bosniak men and boys after Bosnian Serb forces captured Srebrenica in July 1995.
The tribunal also held him responsible for crimes connected to the prolonged siege of Sarajevo, where civilians endured shelling and sniper attacks during the war.
After avoiding arrest for nearly 16 years, Serbian authorities captured Mladic in May 2011 and transferred him to The Hague.
Judges initially sentenced him to life imprisonment in 2017. Subsequently, an appeals chamber upheld his conviction and life sentence in 2021.
His death closes the final chapter in the life of one of the most prominent figures prosecuted over the Bosnian conflict.
