War criminal Mladic is buried as a hero in Serbia despite EU warnings

# Why This Matters Ratko Mladic's funeral with military honors represents a dangerous normalization of convicted war crimes and signals that Serbia—a candidate for EU membership—remains unwilling to fully reckon with atrocities committed during the Balkans conflicts. By treating a person convicted of genocide and crimes against humanity as a national hero, Serbia undermines the fragile reconciliation process across the region, emboldens nationalist movements, and sends a message to victims' families that their suffering is less important than political symbolism. This act directly contradicts the conditions Brussels has set for Serbia's accession, potentially stalling or derailing its EU integration timeline and setting a precedent that other Balkan nations could follow. For international courts and transitional justice mechanisms already struggling to enforce accountability in conflict zones worldwide, Serbia's rejection of Mladic's conviction demonstrates how political forces can hollow out judicial victories, making it harder to prosecute future war criminals who believe they can ultimately escape consequences through nationalist rehabilitation.