Ratko Mladić

Ratko Mladić (Serbian Cyrillic: Ратко Младић, pronounced [râtko mlǎːdit͡ɕ]; born 12 March 1942) was a Serbian former military officer who led the Army of Republika Srpska during the Yugoslav Wars. He became well known for his role in the Bosnian War from 1992 to 1995. In 2017, he was found guilty of serious crimes including war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide by a special court called the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.

Mladić began his military career in 1965 with the Yugoslav People's Army. For many years, he was missing while the court tried to find him. In 2011, he was arrested in Lazarevo, Serbia, and sent to stand trial in The Hague. His trial lasted for many years.

The court decided that Mladić was responsible for very serious events, including the siege of Sarajevo and the Srebrenica massacre. Because of these actions, he was given a life sentence in prison. His case is important because it shows how leaders can be held responsible for their actions during wars.

Early life and military career

Ratko Mladić was born on 12 March 1943 in Božanovići, which was part of the Independent State of Croatia at the time. His father, who was a member of the Yugoslav Partisans, passed away when Mladić was very young. His mother raised him and his two siblings alone.

After finishing elementary school, Mladić worked in Sarajevo before joining the military. He attended military schools and graduated in 1965. He began his service in the Yugoslav People's Army and quickly rose through the ranks. Over the years, he held many important positions and was known as a skilled officer.

Role in the Yugoslav Wars

See also: Croatian War of Independence, Bosnian War, and Bosnian genocide

Ratko Mladić became an important military leader during the Yugoslav Wars in the early 1990s. He commanded forces in several conflicts, including the fighting in Croatia and the siege of Sarajevo, which lasted for four years. In 1992, he took charge of the Army of Republika Srpska, leading troops during some of the toughest battles of the Bosnian War.

In July 1995, troops under Mladić's command took control of the towns of Srebrenica and Žepa, which were supposed to be safe areas protected by the United Nations. Sadly, many people were hurt during these events, and Mladić later faced serious charges for his actions during the war. His role in these conflicts led to him being tried for war crimes, and he was found guilty in 2017.

Indictment by the ICTY

On 24 July 1995, Ratko Mladić was charged by the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) with serious crimes, including genocide and war crimes. The charges included attacks on civilians and the taking of a safe area called Srebrenica.

Mladić spent many years hiding from the authorities. He was believed to be in places like Serbia, Republika Srpska, or even other countries. Despite efforts to find him, including rewards and international pressure, he stayed hidden for a long time. His arrest was very important for Serbia to improve its relationship with the European Union.

Arrest, trial and conviction

Main article: Trial of Ratko Mladić

Ratko Mladić was arrested on 26 May 2011 in Lazarevo, northern Serbia. Serbian special police officers found and arrested him. He was taken to Belgrade and later sent to The Hague for trial. In 2017, he was found guilty of serious crimes by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia and was given a life sentence.

Mladić was found responsible for events during the siege of Sarajevo and the Srebrenica massacre. His trial and appeals took several years, and his sentence was confirmed in 2021. He is currently serving his prison sentence in The Hague.

Personal life

Ratko Mladić and his wife Bosiljka had two children: a son named Darko and a daughter named Ana. Ana passed away in 1994 at the age of 23.

There were different stories about what happened to Ana and where she was found. Some reports mentioned she was under a lot of stress because of the public’s criticism of her father’s actions during the war in Bosnia. Others believed her boyfriend’s death in the same conflict affected her deeply.