The Case of Ratko Mladic: A Battle for Health and Justice in The Hague and Beyond
The defence lawyers of Bosnian Serb general Ratko Mladic have filed an urgent release motion with the U.N. court, claiming that their client is suffering from a potentially life-threatening condition. Mladic, 82 years old, is currently serving a life sentence for his role in the Bosnian war from 1992-1995.
The lawyers are requesting Mladic’s release for treatment at a hospital in Serbia, where he can receive specialized care for his illness. They also argue that being in Serbia would eliminate language barriers and make communication easier for Mladic. Despite being convicted on charges of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes, the lawyers believe that Mladic can receive better treatment outside of The Hague.
As the former leader of Bosnian Serb forces during the war, Mladic has been dubbed the “butcher of the Balkans.” His crimes include terrorizing civilians in Sarajevo during a siege and massacring more than 8,000 Muslim men and boys in Srebrenica in 1995. However, the court papers do not disclose details about Mladic’s specific health condition.
Now it is up to the judges of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT) to decide on Mladic’s application for release. Until then, he remains detained in The Hague where he has been residing since his final conviction on appeal in 2021.
