Ratko Mladić Lawyers Seek Release as War Criminal Nears End of Life, UN Court Reviews Case
Lawyers representing convicted Bosnian Serb war criminal Ratko Mladić have asked a United Nations tribunal in The Hague to release him from prison, arguing that the 84-year-old is close to death and no longer fit for detention.
Mladić, widely known as the “Butcher of Bosnia,” is currently serving a life sentence after being convicted in 2017 of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity committed during the Bosnian war between 1992 and 1995. His conviction was upheld on appeal in 2021.
He has been held at a UN detention facility since his arrest in 2011 after spending 16 years in hiding in Serbia.
Lawyers Claim Severe Health Decline
In a detailed submission to the court, his legal team stated that Mladić has long been bedridden or reliant on a wheelchair. They further claimed that he recently suffered a suspected stroke during a phone call with his son, leaving him severely impaired and nearly unable to speak.
Two doctors, according to the defense, have assessed his condition as critical, warning that the “risk of imminent death is high.”
The lawyers are requesting his immediate provisional or conditional release to a hospital or hospice where Serbian language care is available, effectively seeking his transfer closer to his home country.
Serbian officials have reportedly indicated willingness to provide guarantees if the court approves his release.
UN Court Orders Independent Medical Review
Judge Graciela Gatti Santana of the UN tribunal has ordered an independent medical assessment to evaluate Mladić’s current health condition, prognosis, and the adequacy of care provided in detention.
The court is also considering whether continued imprisonment remains appropriate given his medical condition.
Victims’ Groups Strongly Oppose Release
Victims’ associations from Bosnia and Herzegovina have strongly opposed any release, calling the request a legal strategy rather than a humanitarian necessity.
They argue that Mladić’s actions during the war—including the siege of Sarajevo and the 1995 Srebrenica massacre, where more than 8,000 Bosniak men and boys were killed—make any early release unacceptable.
These groups have also pointed out that previous similar requests for release have been repeatedly rejected, including applications made in 2025 for both permanent and temporary humanitarian release.
Background of the Case
Mladić commanded Bosnian Serb forces during the Bosnian war and was found responsible for leading campaigns of ethnic cleansing across Bosnia and Herzegovina.
He was captured in 2011 after more than a decade on the run and transferred to The Hague, where he was later convicted by the UN tribunal formally known as the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals.
His son has stated that there has been no significant change in his condition, although a prison visit is planned in the coming days.
The court’s final decision on his potential release remains pending.
