Thousands of mourners gathered in Belgrade on Monday for the funeral of Ratko Mladić, the former Bosnian Serb military commander convicted of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Mladić, widely known as the “Butcher of Bosnia,” died aged 84 while serving a life sentence in a United Nations prison in The Hague, Netherlands.
His funeral drew Serbian government ministers, military veterans and other supporters, while also prompting condemnation from the European Union over the public glorification of a convicted war criminal.
Long queues formed outside St Luka church, where mourners lit candles and paid respects before Mladić’s burial.
His coffin was guarded by men including war veterans, while his wife, son and grandchildren received condolences inside.
Serbian Defence Minister Bratislav Gašić and Justice Minister Nenad Vujić were among government officials reported to have joined the crowds.
The service was led by Serbian Orthodox Patriarch Porfirije, who said Mladić remained deeply remembered by many Serbian Orthodox people.
Mladić’s coffin had been flown to Serbia on a government plane and carried from the aircraft by six soldiers.
Free buses were also organised from Bosnia and towns across Serbia for people wishing to attend.
Support for Mladić was additionally displayed by Red Star Belgrade football fans before their derby victory over Partizan Belgrade on Sunday.
The scenes prompted criticism from European officials, with EU enlargement commissioner Marta Kos cancelling a planned visit to Serbia.
The EU said glorifying war criminals, denying genocide and promoting revisionism were incompatible with fundamental European values and had no place in candidate countries.
Serbia has pursued EU membership for years, although its accession process has stalled.
Mladić commanded Bosnian Serb forces during the 1992-1995 Bosnian war and was convicted over crimes including the 1995 Srebrenica massacre, where around 8,000 Bosniak Muslim men and boys were killed.
His forces also conducted the prolonged siege of Sarajevo, where more than 10,000 people died.
Despite those convictions, Mladić remains regarded as a hero by many Serbian nationalists, while his funeral revived painful memories among victims and survivors of the conflict.