Politico: Mladić funeral could threaten Serbia’s EU membership bid

Serbia’s bid to join the European Union has come under renewed scrutiny following the September 7 funeral of former Bosnian Serb military commander Ratko Mladić, who was convicted of genocide and war crimes.

Thousands of people attended the funeral in Belgrade. The ceremony drew criticism from EU officials amid concerns over Serbia’s commitment to confronting its wartime past, Politico reveals.

The Serbian government said it had not been involved in organising the funeral. However, Mladić’s body was transported on a government aircraft, while members of the Serbian Armed Forces escorted his coffin and a military band performed a funeral march.

Serbian Orthodox Patriarch Porfirije, who is considered an ally of President Aleksandar Vučić, led the funeral service at the Church of Saint Luke. Mladić’s coffin was covered with the Serbian flag.

Mladić, who commanded Bosnian Serb forces during the wars in Bosnia and Croatia, was convicted of genocide for the 1995 massacre in Srebrenica, where more than 8,000 Bosniak men and boys were killed. He died in late August at the age of 84 while serving a life sentence at a prison in the Netherlands.

Senior Serbian officials, including Defence Minister Bratislav Gašić and Justice Minister Nenad Vujić, attended the September 7 service.

By Sabina Mammadli