Thousands turn out in Serbia for funeral of 'Butcher of Bosnia' Ratko Mladić

Thousands of people gathered in Serbia to pay their respects to Ratko Mladić, a former Bosnian Serb general convicted of war crimes, including genocide, during the 1990s Bosnian war. Mladić, often referred to as the 'Butcher of Bosnia', was sentenced to life in prison for his role in the Srebrenica massacre and other atrocities committed during the conflict. The large turnout for his funeral has sparked concerns about the ongoing influence of nationalist sentiment in Serbia.

The EU had warned Serbia not to glorify Mladić, whose actions were widely condemned by the international community. The fact that thousands turned out to honor him suggests that there is still a significant amount of support for nationalist and extremist ideologies in Serbia. This could potentially complicate Serbia's bid to join the EU, as the bloc has made it clear that it expects candidate countries to align with its values, including respect for human rights and the rule of law.

As Serbia continues to navigate its relationship with the EU, it's worth watching how the government responds to criticism over Mladić's funeral. The country has made significant progress in recent years, but the legacy of the Yugoslav wars continues to cast a shadow over the region. In the coming weeks and months, we can expect to see continued scrutiny of Serbia's actions, as well as efforts by the international community to promote reconciliation and accountability for war crimes committed during the conflict.

Originally reported by bbc.co.uk. MyNews adds analysis for general news readers.