© ICTY Announcement of the verdict of Ratko Mladic by the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia. UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide is concerned about the “glorification” of Ratko Mladic International Law
United Nations Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide Chaloka Beyani is concerned about the “public displays of genocide denial and glorification” in Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina of “convicted war criminal Ratko Mladic”.
Recall that the former commander of the Bosnian Serb army, General Ratko Mladic, died on August 27 in prison in The Hague at the age of 85.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the Special Adviser said large public events in memory of Mladic, as well as the participation of Serbian political figures in them, were “highly inappropriate.” Such actions, according to Chaloka Beyani, diminish the gravity of serious crimes and violate the dignity and memory of the victims of the crimes of which Mladic was found guilty. Beyani also said that such actions are “incompatible with efforts to strengthen accountability, mutual understanding and sustainable peace in the region.” As commander of the Army of the Republika Srpska, Mladić was found guilty of genocide, crimes against humanity and violations of the laws and customs of war. In 2017, the tribunal sentenced him to life imprisonment.
Special Adviser Bejani joined the Secretary-General’s statement issued in connection with the death of Ratko Mladić, as well as the UN chief’s call for all persons in leadership positions to refrain from denying the gravity of his crimes crimes.
“Building a society that prioritizes the prevention of mass atrocities begins with recognizing reality and the truth about past events,” Beyani said. – It also involves acknowledging the pain and suffering of all victims. The voices of those who advocate such a development of events must sound louder and more convincing than the voices of those who deny the truth about the past.”