'Butcher of Bosnia' near death, say lawyers asking for early release
Convicted war criminal Ratko Mladić, known as the 'Butcher of Bosnia,' is reportedly near death following a serious medical incident, according to his lawyers, who are seeking his early release on humanitarian grounds. Mladić, serving a life sentence for genocide and war crimes committed during the Bosnian War, is said to be in irreversible medical decline after a suspected stroke. A UN judge has ordered an independent medical review to assess his condition and life expectancy, while victims' groups and human rights organizations strongly oppose any release.
- ▪Ratko Mladić was convicted in 2017 of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity for his role in the siege of Sarajevo and the Srebrenica massacre.
- ▪His lawyers claim he suffered a stroke, leaving him unable to speak and with difficulty swallowing, and argue that the prison cannot provide adequate medical care.
- ▪An independent medical review has been requested by Judge Graciela Gatti Santana to evaluate Mladić's health and life expectancy.
- ▪Human rights groups and victims' organizations have condemned the possibility of his early release.
- ▪Mladić was a key figure in the Bosnian Serb military campaign that targeted Bosniak and Croat civilians during the 1990s conflict.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
'Butcher of Bosnia' Ratko Mladić, serving life at The Hague for war crimes, 'approaching end of life'ABy Andrew ThorpeTopic:Crime14m ago14 minutes agoSat 2 May 2026 at 1:13amFormer Bosnian Serb military leader Ratko Mladić enters court at The Hague during an appeal in 2021. (Reuters: Jerry Lampen)In short:Convicted war criminal Ratko Mladić has suffered a serious medical incident and should be released from The Hague on humanitarian grounds, his lawyers say.Mladić, who was sentenced to life in 2017 for genocide and war crimes over his role in the siege of Sarajevo and the Srebrenica massacre, is nearing death and requires better medical care, they say.What's next?A UN judge has requested an independent medical review of the 84-year-old's condition, as well as the extent to which his life…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at ABC News (Australia).