Timeline: Life of Ratko Mladic, general turned ‘Butcher of Bosnia’ | Srebrenica genocide News

Ratko Mladic, Notorious War Criminal, Dies in Prison at 84

Ratko Mladic, the former Bosnian Serb military leader convicted for his role in the Srebrenica Genocide, died in a Dutch prison at the age of 84. Mladic had been serving a life sentence for genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY).

The United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, emphasized the gravity of Mladic’s crimes in response to his death on Thursday. “The Secretary-General stands in solidarity with the victims, survivors, and their families who suffered the crimes for which Mr. Mladic was found guilty,” said Guterres’s spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric. Dujarric also urged leaders to refrain from denying the seriousness of the adjudicated crimes.

On Friday, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic criticized the UN war crimes court for what he termed “uncivilized behavior” in denying Mladic’s requests for early release. The Serbian government had sought permission for Mladic to receive medical treatment outside of prison, citing his deteriorating health.

Mladic, often referred to as the “Butcher of Bosnia,” was a central figure during the conflicts that erupted following the disintegration of Yugoslavia. Under his command, Bosnian Serb forces seized Srebrenica in July 1995, a town that the United Nations had designated a “safe area.” In the aftermath, more than 8,000 Bosniak men and boys were killed, marking the event as one of the most horrific episodes of the Bosnian War.

Timeline of Key Events in Mladic’s Life

• 1942-1966: Early Life
  Ratko Mladic was born in March 1942 in the village of Bozanovici, within what is now Bosnia and Herzegovina. He was the son of a member of a communist-led resistance group during World War II. Mladic married Bosiljka Jedic in 1966 and had two children.

• 1965-1991: Military Career
  Mladic joined the Yugoslav National Army (JNA) at 22 and ascended through the ranks, becoming the head of the Operational Teaching Department in 1991.

• 1991-1992: Command in Sarajevo
  Promoted to major-general in 1991 and later to lieutenant-colonel general, Mladic commanded the JNA’s Second Military Area Command in Sarajevo, where he oversaw military operations as tensions escalated.

• 1992-1995: The Siege of Sarajevo
  Mladic led the Bosnian Serb army during the siege of Sarajevo, the longest military siege in modern history, claiming over 11,500 lives and resulting in the indiscriminate shelling of the city.

• July 1995: The Srebrenica Genocide
  In July 1995, Mladic’s forces captured the UN-designated safe areas of Srebrenica and Zepa. The massacre resulted in the deaths of thousands of Bosniak men and boys and the expulsion of numerous residents.

• 1995: Indictment for Genocide
  Mladic and then-political leader Radovan Karadzic were indicted by the ICTY for war crimes, including the events in Srebrenica. An international arrest warrant was issued in 1996.

• 1997-2011: Life in Hiding
  Following his indictment, Mladic evaded capture for 15 years, moving frequently to avoid arrest.

• 2011: Arrest and Trial
  Mladic was arrested on May 26, 2011, and was transferred to The Hague for trial. His trial began in 2011, concluding with closing arguments in December 2016.

• November 2017: Sentencing
  In 2017, Mladic received a life sentence for his crimes, including those committed during the Srebrenica Genocide.

• June 2025: Appeal Denied
  Mladic’s request for release due to failing health was denied in June 2025.

• August 27, 2026: Death
  Mladic passed away in The Hague after spending nearly 15 years in detention following his arrest and condemnation for war crimes in Bosnia.

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