Ratko Mladic

Ratko Mladic is one of the ICTY’s “most wanted” for war crimes committed during the Bosnia conflict.  Mladic was the Commander of the Bosnian Serb Army (“VRS”) and worked closely with Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic.  He still remains at large.

Mladic has been indicted by the ICTY on 2 counts of genocide, 7 counts of crimes against humanity, and 6 counts of violations of the laws or customs of war.  The indictments stem from a number of allegations occurring between 1992 and 1995.

Beginning in 1992, the VSR, under his command, terrorized the city of Sarajevo by shelling targets and sniping civilians.  Soon after, VSR forces seized control of the eastern Bosnia municipalities where they began persecuting non-Serbs.  Thousands were forcibly removed, detained, or killed by the VSR.

Thereafter, between January and March 1993, Mladic’s VSR forces moved into the Cerska area forcing thousands of Muslims to flee to Bosnia-Herzegovina areas such as Srebrenica, which was declared a “security zone” by the UN.  Despite this UN declaration, Mladic’s troops took control of Srebrenica during a 9 day siege in July of 1995.  Mladic’s forces rounded up and executed over 7,000 Muslim prisoners from July 13 – 19, the worst massacre on European soil since WWII.  From August 1995 until November 1995, Mladic had his VRS forces cover up the executions by exhuming the bodies from the mass graves and reburying them in scattered locations.

Mladic lived freely in Belgrade after these atrocities until the capture of former Yugoslavian leader Slobodan Milosevic forced him to go into hiding.  EU and ICTY officials have chided the present Serbian government for its failure to capture Mladic.

For more information, please see: 

BBC - Profile: Ratko Mladic - 6 June 2005
UN – Case Information Sheet Mladic case (IT-95-5/18) - 23 June 2004
Trial Watch - Ratko Mladic – 4 June 200