Muhamed Hasanović, Deputy Minister of Finance and Treasury of Bosnia and Herzegovina, has sent a letter to the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals in The Hague (IRMCT) regarding the possibility of Mladić’s early release.
“I write to you with deep concern about any consideration of Mladić’s early release, regardless of his current health condition. Despite the fact that every person has the right to humane treatment and dignity under international law, it must be clearly and unequivocally emphasized that compassion cannot erase responsibility for some of the most serious crimes committed on European territory since the Second World War. The suffering of the victims and survivors cannot be diminished, relativized, or forgotten,” Hasanović emphasized.
As he said, Mladić was not a passive observer of the war.
“He was a commander of forces responsible for systematic campaigns of terror, ethnic cleansing, exile, mass executions, destruction of cities and communities, and the suffering of numerous civilians during the aggression against Bosnia and Herzegovina. Under his command, thousands of men and boys were murdered, while women were subjected to horrific violence and abuse. Families were destroyed, and entire populations were forcefully exiled. The Siege of Sarajevo brought terror to civilians, including children. The genocide in Srebrenica remains one of the darkest chapters in modern European history. Judgments of the international courts were not political acts, but the result of years of evidence, testimony, and legal analysis. The conviction of Ratko Mladić represents not only an individual sentence, but it also represents a symbol of international justice and responsibility for crimes against humanity and genocide. Any decision that could be interpreted as trivializing these crimes would send a deeply hurtful and dangerous message to survivors, families of the victims, and future generations,” he stated.
He also stated that releasing a man convicted of genocide and crimes against humanity solely due to deteriorating health risks compromising trust in international justice and reopening wounds still painfully present across Bosnia and Herzegovina and the region.
“Justice must not become conditional with the passage of time or the physical weakening of those responsible for crimes. This is not a matter of revenge. It is a matter of historical truth, moral responsibility, and respect for victims whose voices can no longer be heard. Mercy cannot come at the expense of justice, especially when the crimes committed were marked by deliberate brutality and catastrophic human suffering. Therefore, I address you on this occasion not only as the Deputy Minister of Finance and Treasury, but also as a member of the Hasanović family, which suffered the loss of many members during the genocide in Srebrenica. This pain is not only part of a family tragedy, but a permanent testimony to the magnitude of the crimes committed against innocent people,” Hasanović said.
He added that, precisely for the sake of the victims, survivors, and future generations, there is a moral and civilizational obligation for international justice to remain consistent and resolute.
“Therefore, I urge all competent institutions and decision-makers to reject any initiative that would lead to the release of Ratko Mladić. International justice must remain firm, principled, and resolute in the face of crimes of this magnitude. The memory of the victims deserves nothing less,” Hasanović concluded.
