Body of convicted war criminal Ratko Mladic returns to Serbia in government plane - Reuters

A Serbian government aircraft transported the remains of Ratko Mladic, the former Bosnian Serb army commander who was serving a life sentence for war crimes, back to Belgrade on Thursday. The flight brought the body from the prison where he died last week while serving his sentence.

Mladic, who was convicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia of genocide, crimes against humanity and other war‑time offenses, passed away at the age of 77. His death marks the end of a decades‑long legal process that began with his indictment in the 1990s.

The aircraft landed at Belgrade’s Nikola Tesla Airport, and officials indicated that a large funeral is expected to be held in the capital. Government representatives have not yet released details about the ceremony, but they confirmed that the body will be taken to a funeral site in Belgrade.

Serbian authorities have said the transport of the remains was carried out in accordance with standard procedures for high‑profile individuals. The use of a state‑owned plane underscores the official handling of the repatriation.

The arrival of Mladic’s body is likely to draw significant public attention, given his prominent role in the Bosnian War and the extensive media coverage of his trial and conviction. The funeral is anticipated to be a major event in Serbia, though the exact scale and participants have not been formally announced.