Ratko Mladić Dies in Hague Prison Hospital at 84
Former Bosnian Serb military commander Ratko Mladić has died at the age of 84 in a prison hospital in The Hague, according to Serbia’s state broadcaster RTS.
Mladić became one of the most notorious figures of the Bosnian War. The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) convicted him of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The court sentenced him to life imprisonment for his role in atrocities committed during the 1992-1995 Bosnian War.
Mladić and the Srebrenica Genocide
Mladić led the Bosnian Serb army during the war. In July 1995, forces under his command carried out the Srebrenica massacre.
More than 8,000 Bosniak men and boys were killed after Bosnian Serb forces seized the United Nations-declared safe area.
International courts later recognized the killings as genocide. The Srebrenica massacre remains one of the worst atrocities in Europe since the Second World War.
Mladić became widely known as the “Butcher of Bosnia” because of his role in the conflict and the crimes committed by forces under his command.
Role in the Siege of Sarajevo
Mladić also played a central role in the prolonged siege of Sarajevo.
Bosnian Serb forces surrounded the Bosnian capital and subjected civilians to years of shelling and sniper attacks. The siege began in 1992 and continued until the final stages of the war.
The campaign caused widespread civilian suffering and deaths.
Bosnia and Herzegovina had declared independence from Yugoslavia in 1992. Bosnian Serb leaders then established their own political and military structures with support from Belgrade.
Mladić, a career Yugoslav army officer, became commander of the Bosnian Serb army and directed military operations across large parts of Bosnia.
Mladić Spent 15 Years as a Fugitive
The ICTY first indicted Mladić in July 1995, while the Bosnian War was still underway.
Despite the indictment, he remained in his military position until November 1996. He then disappeared from public view and spent years avoiding arrest.
Mladić remained a fugitive for approximately 15 years.
Authorities eventually arrested him in Serbia in 2011 at the home of a relative. His capture ended one of Europe’s most closely watched international manhunts.
He was subsequently transferred to The Hague to face trial.
Life Sentence for War Crimes
The ICTY convicted Mladić in 2017 and imposed a life sentence.
The court found him responsible for a range of crimes, including genocide, persecution, extermination, murder, deportation and terror.
Judges also found him responsible for the hostage-taking of United Nations personnel and other crimes committed during the conflict.
Mladić consistently rejected the allegations against him and maintained that the charges were politically motivated.
An appeal later upheld his life sentence.
Health Problems in His Final Years
Mladić’s health deteriorated significantly in his later years.
His family said he suffered several strokes and experienced other serious health problems while serving his sentence in The Hague.
He spent his final years under international detention, far from Serbia, where he had remained hidden for years after the war.
His death closes the life of one of the central military figures of the Bosnian conflict, but the legacy of the atrocities associated with his command continues to shape Bosnia and the wider Balkans.
