Türkiye has condemned the exploitation of Ratko Mladic’s funeral to glorify the convicted Bosnian Serb war criminal, saying any denial of the crimes for which he was found guilty is unacceptable.
In a statement on Tuesday, Türkiye’s Foreign Ministry said Mladic was conclusively convicted by international tribunals of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes, and warned that rejecting those judicial rulings or glorifying convicted perpetrators only deepens the suffering of victims and their families.
Ankara calls for lessons from the past
The ministry said efforts to honour Mladic undermine years of work aimed at achieving peace and reconciliation across the Balkans.
“What the Balkans require is the construction of a peaceful, prosperous and shared future, founded upon the necessary lessons drawn from the past,” the ministry said.
Mladic, widely known as the “Butcher of Bosnia,” was convicted by the UN tribunal in The Hague over his role in atrocities committed during the 1992-95 Bosnian War, including the 1995 Srebrenica genocide.
He died on August 27 while serving a life sentence in The Hague. His remains were subsequently flown to Belgrade, where they were received with military honours ahead of his burial on Monday.
Thousands attended the funeral, including Serbian officials, drawing condemnation from international observers.
The controversy has also strained Serbia’s relationship with the European Union.
EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos cancelled a planned visit to Serbia, saying the glorification of Mladic was incompatible with the values underpinning the country’s EU accession path.
Türkiye honours victims of Bosnian War
Türkiye’s Foreign Ministry also paid tribute to those killed during the Bosnian War, particularly the victims of the Srebrenica genocide, and expressed solidarity with their families.
The ministry said confronting the past, respecting victims and rejecting the glorification of convicted war criminals are essential to building lasting peace in the Balkans.
Türkiye’s statement comes as Mladic’s funeral has reignited debate over how Serbia and the wider region confront the legacy of the Bosnian War and the crimes established by international courts.
