Ratko Mladi?

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Ratko Mladi? (born March 12, 1943) was the leader of the Army of the Republika Srpska (VRS) (the Bosnian Serb Army) during the 1992-95 war in Bosnia. He is almost universally acknowledged as the one person directly responsible for the massacre of 8,000 Muslim men and boys on July 11, 1995 in Srebrenica - Europe's worst atrocity since World War II.

Related Topics:
March 12 - 1943 - Republika Srpska - Bosnian Serb Army - Bosnia - Muslim - July 11 - 1995 - Srebrenica - Europe - World War II

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Mladi? was born in Kalinovik, Bosnia, then a part of the Nazi Independent State of Croatia, a state created after the German and Italian invasion and dismemberment of Yugoslavia in 1941.

Related Topics:
Kalinovik - Bosnia - Nazi - Independent State of Croatia - German - Italian - Yugoslavia - 1941

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In June 1991, Mladi? was posted to Knin as a Commander of the 9th Corps of the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA), during fighting between the JNA and Croatian forces. On October 4, 1991, he was promoted to General Major. The JNA forces under his command participated in the war in Croatia, helped the establishment of the Republic of Serbian Krajina. Among other things, Mladi? helped Marti?'s paramilitary occupy the village of Kijevo.

Related Topics:
1991 - Knin - Yugoslav People's Army - Croatia - October 4 - War in Croatia - Republic of Serbian Krajina - Marti? - Kijevo

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On April 24, 1992, Mladi? was promoted to the rank of General Lieutenant, and on May 9, 1992, he assumed the post of Chief of Staff/Deputy Commander of the Second Military District Headquarters of the JNA in Sarajevo. On 10 May 1992, Mladi? assumed the command of the Second Military District Headquarters of the JNA.

Related Topics:
April 24 - 1992 - Rank - May 9 - Sarajevo - 10 May

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On May 12, 1992, the Bosnian Serb Assembly voted to create the VRS. At the same time, Mladi? was appointed Commander of the Main Staff of the VRS, a position he held until December 1996. (In May 1992, after the withdrawal of JNA forces from Bosnia, the JNA Second Military District became the nucleus of the Main Staff of the VRS.) On June 24, 1994, he was promoted to the rank of General Colonel.

Related Topics:
May 12 - 1992 - Bosnian Serb Assembly - 1996 - Bosnia - June 24 - 1994

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On July 24, 1995, Mladi? was indicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia and accused of genocide, crimes against humanity, and numerous war crimes (including crimes relating to the alleged sniping campaign against civilians in Sarajevo). On November 16, 1995, the charges were expanded to include charges of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes for the attack on the United Nations-declared safe area of Srebrenica in July 1995. Mladi? is also responsible for the taking of hostages amongst UN peace-keeping personnel.

Related Topics:
July 24 - 1995 - Indicted - International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia - Genocide - Crimes against humanity - War crimes - Sniping - Sarajevo - November 16 - United Nations - Srebrenica - Hostage - Peace-keeping

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A fugitive from the ICTY, he is suspected to be hiding either in Serbia or the Republika Srpska. Mladi? was reportedly seen attending a football match between China and Yugoslavia in Belgrade in March 2000. He entered through a VIP entrance and sat in a private box surrounded by eight armed bodyguards. Some claim that he has been seen in a suburb of Moscow, and that he is "regularly" in Thessalonica and Athens, which has raised suspicions that numerous fake reports are sent to cover his trail. Some reports say he took refuge in his wartime bunker in Han Pijesak, not far from Sarajevo, or in Montenegro.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/1423551.stm

Related Topics:
Fugitive - ICTY - Serbia - Republika Srpska - Football - China - Yugoslavia - Belgrade - Moscow - Thessalonica - Athens

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His security is undoubtedly well assuredhttp://www.tfeagle.army.mil/tfeno/Feature_Story.asp?Article=70819. In November 2004 British defence officials conceded that military action was unlikely to be successful in bringing Mladi? and other suspects to trial. Putting political pressure on Balkan governments would be more likely to succeed.

Related Topics:
November - 2004 - British - Defence - Military action - Suspect - Trial - Balkan - Government

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In March 1994 Mladi?'s daughter Ana committed suicide while studying medicine at the University of Belgrade. It is possible that the reason for her suicide lay in intense criticism of Mladi? in the Serbian media at the time. She is buried in Top?ider; it is believed that for some time Mladi? came regularly to see the grave.

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