The International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals has responded to the University of Sarajevo – Institute for Research of Crimes against Humanity and International Law regarding the letter sent by the Institute on 29 August 2026, in which the Institute called for the urgent consideration of all legal, procedural, administrative and institutional options concerning the transfer of Ratko Mladić’s remains and the publicly announced plans to accord him the highest state and military honours in the Republic of Serbia.
The response was sent to the Institute by Abubacarr M. Tambadou, Registrar of the International Residual Mechanism. In his response, he stated that he fully understands the sensitivity of the matter, as well as the concerns regarding the possibility that Ratko Mladić’s remains could be used for political purposes. The Mechanism nevertheless stated that it is required to act in accordance with relevant international law and human rights standards, under which the body of a deceased detainee should be returned to his family as soon as reasonably possible. The response further states that the decision to release Ratko Mladić’s remains to his family was made in accordance with this legal obligation and the established practice of the Mechanism.
We consider particularly significant the part of the response in which the Mechanism directly addresses the issue of victims and the glorification of individuals convicted with final and binding judgments for international crimes.
Referring to the position of United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, the Registrar of the Mechanism expressed solidarity with the victims, survivors and their families who suffered the crimes for which Ratko Mladić was found guilty, and condemned acts that glorify individuals convicted by international courts of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.
The Institute appreciates the fact that the Mechanism responded to our communication and that, in its response, it unequivocally acknowledged the sensitivity of the matter, the concerns regarding the potential political use of Ratko Mladić’s remains, and, in particular, reiterated its condemnation of the glorification of individuals finally convicted of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.
At the same time, the Mechanism’s response confirms that the decision to release the remains to the family is based on its interpretation of international human rights standards and established institutional practice, and that the Mechanism considers itself to have no jurisdiction, following the release of the remains to the family, over the place of burial or any further handling of the remains. This is precisely why the question raised by the Institute in its communication remains particularly important: the distinction between a family’s right to bury a deceased family member and a decision by the state institutions of the Republic of Serbia to accord the highest state and military honours to an individual finally convicted of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.
It is particularly significant that the Mechanism’s response also clearly condemns the glorification of individuals convicted by international courts of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. The Institute believes that this message must be clearly taken into account, given that the transportation of the body, memorial ceremony and burial of war criminal Ratko Mladić have been turned into a state and military ceremony glorifying him posthumously.
The Institute will continue to insist on respect for facts established by final and binding judgments, the protection of the dignity of victims, and a clear institutional rejection of all forms of denial, relativisation and glorification of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and their perpetrators who have been finally convicted.
(2).png)
(3).png)
.png)