Noting Death of Former Bosnia Serb Armed Forces Commander Ratko Mladić, Secretary-General Stands in Solidarity with Srebrenica Genocide Victims

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General António Guterres:

The Secretary-General takes note of the death of Ratko Mladić, former commander of the Bosnian Serb armed forces.

Mr. Mladić was serving a sentence of life imprisonment following his conviction for genocide, crimes against humanity and violations of the laws or customs of war by the International Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in 2017.  The conviction and sentence were affirmed by the Appeals Chamber of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals on 8 June 2021.

The Secretary-General stands in solidarity with the victims, survivors and their families who suffered the crimes for which Mr. Mladić was found guilty.

These judicial findings are final, and the facts they conclusively established form part of the historical record.  The Secretary-General reiterates his call on all those in position of power to refrain from denying the seriousness of the crimes that have been adjudicated.

He strongly condemns any denial of the Srebrenica genocide as a historical event, and any actions that glorify those convicted of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide by international courts.

Accountability remains an essential step for lasting peace, trust and reconciliation in the region.  The United Nations remains fully committed to supporting efforts towards achieving accountability and justice for all.