Ratko Mladić

Ratko Mladić was a Serbian military officer. He became a central figure during the Yugoslav Wars in the 1990s. Mladić led the Army of Republika Srpska, which was known as the VRS. He held the position of Chief of Staff during the Bosnian War from 1992 to 1995. His actions during this conflict led to serious international legal consequences. Eventually, an international court found him guilty of genocide and other grave crimes. He is currently serving a life sentence in The Hague.

Mladić's military career began many years before the wars in Bosnia. He was born on March 12, 1942, in Božanovići. His father, Neđa, was a member of the Yugoslav Partisans. Neđa died in 1945 while leading an attack during World War II. After his father's death, Mladić was raised by his mother, Stana. He attended the Military Industry School in Zemun and the KOV Military Academy. He graduated from the Officers Academy on September 27, 1965. He joined the Yugoslav People's Army, or JNA, immediately after his graduation. He also joined the League of Communists of Yugoslavia that same year.

Throughout the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, Mladić rose steadily through the military ranks. He started as a second lieutenant in April 1968. He eventually commanded a platoon, a battalion, and a brigade. In 1976, he attended higher military education at the "Komandno-štabne akademije" in Belgrade. He finished this program in first place with a grade of 9.57 out of 10. By 1980, he had reached the rank of lieutenant colonel. He became a colonel in 1986 while stationed in Štip. His promotions continued as he moved into high-level leadership roles. In 1991, he was promoted to the rank of major general.

The Yugoslav Wars changed the direction of his career. In 1992, the Bosnian Serb Parliament created the Army of Republika Srpska. Mladić was appointed as the Commander of the Main Staff of the VRS. He held this command until December 1996. During this time, he led operations that had devastating effects on civilian populations. In May 1992, he helped blockade the city of Sarajevo. This blockade lasted for four years and is the longest siege of a city in modern warfare. During the siege, the city faced constant shelling and sniper fire.

Mladić was also responsible for actions in Srebrenica in July 1995. At that time, Srebrenica was a UN-declared "safe area." However, troops under Mladić's command overran and occupied the area. During this event, over 40,000 Bosniaks were expelled from their homes. An estimated 8,300 people were murdered on Mladić's orders. These specific actions led many people to call him "The Butcher of Bosnia." Because of his high rank, the court held him responsible for these command decisions. His leadership during these events became the basis for his later criminal charges.

Following the wars, Mladić became a fugitive from international justice. In 1996, the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) issued an arrest warrant for him. The ICTY found reasonable grounds to believe he committed crimes against humanity and genocide. The United States government offered a $5 million reward for information leading to his arrest. Mladić remained at large for nearly sixteen years. He was reportedly sheltered by security forces and family members. Some reports suggested he visited various cities or stayed in wartime bunkers. He was finally arrested in Lazarevo, Serbia, in 2011. This arrest was a major step for Serbia's relationship with the European Union.

Mladić's trial at the ICTY began in 2012 and lasted until 2017. The court examined many different charges against him. He was found guilty of ten total counts. These included one count of genocide and five counts of crimes against humanity. He was also convicted of four counts involving violations of the laws or customs of war. He was cleared of only one count of genocide. The court sentenced him to life in prison for these crimes. His case remains a significant example of how international law attempts to hold military leaders accountable for their actions during wartime.