United Nations is investigating the death of Mladić the Bosnian Warlord behind the Srebrenica genocide
Arusha, Tanzania and The Hague
The Convict, Mr. Ratko Mladić passed away on the 27th of August 2026 while hospitalized in The Hague, The Netherlands.
Mladic who commanded the Bosnian Serb army during the Bosnian conflict (1992–95) was widely believed to have masterminded the Srebrenica genocide, the worst episode of mass murder within Europe since World War II.
A statement from the United Nations Residual Mechanism has confirmed his death.
The report revealed that the Medical Officer of the United Nations Detention Unit (UNDU) was immediately notified, after Mladić passing and the authorities in the Netherlands have already commenced the standard procedures and investigations required under Dutch national law.
Exercising her authority under the Statute of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (Mechanism) and the Rules of Detention, the President of the Mechanism, Judge Graciela Gatti Santana, has ordered a full inquiry into the circumstances surrounding Mr. Mladić’s death, assigning Judge Iain Bonomy to conduct the inquiry.
Mr. Mladić, the former Commander of the Main Staff of the Bosnian Serb Forces, was arrested on 26 May 2011 and transferred to The Hague shortly thereafter.
On 22 November 2017, an International Criminal Tribunal for Yugoslavia (ICTY) Trial Chamber convicted him of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes.
He was thus sentenced to life imprisonment.
On 8 June 2021, the Appeals Chamber of the Mechanism affirmed his convictions and sentence. At the time of his death, Mr. Mladić was awaiting transfer to a State for enforcement of the remainder of his sentence.
Background
On 22 December 2010, the United Nations Security Council adopted resolution 1966 (2010), establishing the Mechanism to continue the jurisdiction, rights and obligations, and to carry out the essential functions of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) and the International Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY).
The Mechanism commenced operations on 1 July 2012 in Arusha, United Republic of Tanzania, and on 1 July 2013 in The Hague, The Netherlands. During its initial years, the Mechanism operated alongside the ICTR and ICTY.
Following the closure of the ICTR on 31 December 2015 and the ICTY on 31 December 2017, the Mechanism has continued its work as a stand-alone institution.