War Criminal Mladić Denied Early Release Despite Grave Health

War criminal Ratko Mladić will stay in prison. The President of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT), Graciela Gatti Santana, denied his request for early release. Mladić is serving a life sentence for genocide in Srebrenica and other crimes committed in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Mladić's defense asked for conditional early release on August 18. They wanted him transferred to a hospital or palliative care in Serbia. The request was based on Mladić's probable imminent death and his desire for more family visits.

An August 14 medical report stated Mladić's health was rapidly declining. Doctors said he had entered the final stage of life. They expected his death "in the coming weeks" or "at any moment." Current care focuses on comfort.

However, President Gatti Santana was not convinced by the humanitarian arguments. She stated that justice interests do not require release just because death is near. She affirmed Mladić's human dignity is fully respected where he is. She concluded that proper criminal justice does not demand a humanitarian release in this case.

Other judges were consulted. Three judges supported rejecting the request. Two judges thought it should be approved.

Mladić, a former commander of the Army of Republika Srpska (VRS), received his life sentence in June 2021. His crimes include genocide in Srebrenica, persecuting Bosniaks and Croats, terrorizing Sarajevo, and taking UNPROFOR members hostage. Previous requests for his release due to health were also denied.