Mladić seeks release over failing health
Lawyers for Ratko Mladić are awaiting a ruling from a United Nations court on a request to release him on medical grounds. The 84-year-old former Bosnian Serb commander is currently serving a life sentence in The Hague. Mladić was convicted in 2017 of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity, a verdict upheld on appeal in 2021. Once dubbed the “Butcher of Bosnia,” he remains one of the most prominent figures linked to atrocities during the Balkan wars. His legal team argues that his health has significantly deteriorated. According to their submission, he has been largely bedridden or reliant on a wheelchair and is believed to have suffered a stroke that has severely affected his ability to speak. Medical assessments cited by the defence describe his condition as critical, with a high risk of imminent death. They are requesting provisional […]