Ratko Mladić
Credit: ICTY, CC BY 2.0

Mladić was convicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in 2017 of crimes committed by Serb forces during the conflict in Bosnia and Herzegovina from 1992–1995, while he was commander of the main staff of the Bosnian Serb Army (VRS).

The dismissal of his appeal by the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (MICT) means that Mladić, now 78, will spend the rest of his life in prison.

Chief prosecutor Serge Brammertz said: “Mladić should be condemned by all responsible officials in the former Yugoslavia and around the world. His name should be consigned to the list of history’s most depraved and barbarous figures.

“This is not a judgment against the Serbian people, who Mladić and his supporters have manipulated for decades. Mladić’s guilt is his, and his alone.

“With the conclusion of this case, the victims and survivors should be in the forefront of our thoughts. The appeal judgment confirms again what they suffered. And it confirms the courage of the witnesses who came forward and told the truth.”

He added: “Ultimately, today’s judgment should also remind us of the justice that still needs to be achieved. Throughout the former Yugoslavia, thousands of war crimes suspects from all sides remain to be investigated and prosecuted.

“National prosecutors and judges now have the responsibility to continue this work, and my Office pledges to provide them with our full support. Together we can ensure that all victims of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in the former Yugoslavia are able to see those who wronged them answer for their crimes.”

Mladić was indicted by the ICTY in July 1995 but not arrested until 2011. His trial began in May 2012 and took place over 530 trial days, with evidence from nearly 600 witnesses and 10,000 exhibits.

In the end, Mladić was convicted of genocide and persecution, extermination, murder, and the inhumane act of forcible transfer in the area of Srebrenica in 1995; of persecution, extermination, murder, deportation and inhumane act of forcible transfer in municipalities throughout BiH; of murder, terror and unlawful attacks on civilians in Sarajevo; and of hostage-taking of UN personnel. He was acquitted of the charge of genocide in several municipalities in BiH in 1992.