Mladic's 16-year fugitive years ended with Belgrade arrest in 2011
Mladic evaded capture for 16 years across Bosnia and Serbia before arrest in Belgrade in 2011.
Event / Security
Bosnian War Trials Legacy
Ratko Mladic, Bosnian Serb general convicted of genocide and war crimes for his role in the 1992-1995 Bosnian War, died in UN custody in The Hague. Mladic's forces were responsible for the Srebrenica massacre and Sarajevo siege, among other atrocities that killed over 100,000 people.
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2026-08-27 to 2026-11-08 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 27 Aug, 23:35 UTC
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What happened
Mladic moved to Belgrade after evading capture in Bosnia
When his trail grew too hot in Bosnia in the late 1990s, Ratko Mladic moved with his family to a suburban villa in Belgrade, Serbia. In Belgrade, he was occasionally seen at public venues including his son's wedding, soccer games, restaurants, and cafes, though he refused to give interviews.
Mladic commanded Bosnian Serb forces that besieged Sarajevo
When the ethnic war in Bosnia started in 1992, Ratko Mladic became the commander of the Bosnian Serb troops and took control of large swaths of the country. Serbs under Mladic's control laid siege to Sarajevo and other cities and villages, killing civilians with snipers and artillery. Over 10,000 people died in Sarajevo during the siege.
Bosnian war death toll exceeded 100,000 people
The ethnic war in Bosnia that began in 1992 and lasted for several years left more than 100,000 people dead and over 1 million homeless. The conflict was one of the deadliest in Europe since World War II.
Mladic's forces massacred over 8,000 Muslim men and boys in Srebrenica in 1995
In July 1995, Ratko Mladic's troops overran the UN-designated safe area of Srebrenica and slaughtered more than 8,000 Muslim men and boys. The massacre is recognized as the only post-World War II case of genocide in Europe. The dead were bulldozed into mass graves, some later dug up and relocated to remote mountains to hide evidence of the killings.
Mladic spent years in hiding in Han Pijesak military compound
After his indictment in 1996, Ratko Mladic began his fugitive years in Han Pijesak, a military compound in eastern Bosnia that was built for Yugoslav leader Josip Broz Tito and designed to withstand a nuclear attack. He lived there with his wife Bosa, caring for bees and goats.
UN doctor found in August 2026 that Mladic's death could occur within weeks
In August 2026, a UN doctor examined Ratko Mladic and found that his death 'may occur at any time,' possibly within weeks. Despite his deteriorating health condition, his application for release on humanitarian grounds was rejected.
Mladic established concentration camps during Bosnian war
Ratko Mladic's forces established concentration camps for detained non-Serb civilians and enemy soldiers during the Bosnian war. In these camps, prisoners were subjected to systematic abuse including starvation, rape, torture, and execution.
Mladic's conviction upheld on appeal in 2021
Ratko Mladic's appeal against his genocide conviction was rejected in 2021 by the UN tribunal. His repeated requests for release on compassionate grounds were also denied as not in the interests of justice.
Mladic was arrested in May 2011 after 16 years on the run
Ratko Mladic was arrested in May 2011 in a village near Belgrade where he was hiding in a relative's modest house. He had evaded capture for approximately 16 years following the indictment by the UN tribunal for his war crimes. He put up no resistance when arrested.
Ratko Mladic dies in UN prison at age 84
Ratko Mladic, the Bosnian Serb general, died in a UN prison hospital in The Hague, Netherlands. He was 84 years old. Mladic had been in custody since 2011 after spending many years on the run following the wars in the former Yugoslavia.
UN tribunal sentenced Mladic to life in prison for war crimes in 2017
The UN tribunal for war crimes committed during the wars in Yugoslavia in the 1990s sentenced Ratko Mladic to life in prison in 2017. The conviction was considered a key step toward bringing justice to the victims of the conflict.
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2 alternative perspectives
Mladic's command legacy: sieges, camps, and mass atrocity
Mladic's documented command of sieges, massacres, and camps shaped modern war crimes accountability.
War crimes convict Ratko Mladic dies after life sentence upheld
War crimes convict Ratko Mladic died in UN custody after exhausting legal appeals.