The death of the convicted war criminal Ratko Mladic is stirring old ghosts across the Balkans. Our selection of Balkan Insight’s Premium stories examines how the legacies of the past and choices of the present are shaping politics, security and society across the region.
The spectre of Ratko Mladic
Bosnian Serb military chief Ratko Mladic died in The Hague at the age of 84 on August 27, having spent his final years serving a life sentence for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. BIRN covered the death of Mladic extensively, with profiles, features, analyses and opinion articles.
Mladic’s death has shown just how far the former Bosnian Serb military chief’s legacy extends beyond the judgments that established his responsibility for some of the worst atrocities of the Bosnian war.
Across Bosnia’s mainly Serb Republika Srpska entity, Mladic supporters took to the streets, lit candles and publicly celebrated Mladic, including in towns where his forces committed crimes, while politicians in both Bosnia and Serbia joined in paying tribute. For genocide survivors, the sight of young people who may not even have been born during the war glorifying Mladic was particularly disturbing, proving that nationalist narratives have passed to another generation.
The reactions have also prompted deeper questions about what justice has achieved. Former Hague Tribunal intern Ahmet Gumusbas observed that Mladic’s conviction established criminal responsibility and an authoritative record of the crimes, but could never end disputes over memory and denial. Journalist Kristina Ljevak Bajramovic reflected on the gulf between Mladic, who was able to grow old, and the thousands of his victims who were denied that chance.
In Serbia, meanwhile, Youth Initiative for Human Rights director Sofija Todorovic argued that official tributes to Mladic demonstrate how the glorification of convicted war criminals has become embedded in Serbia’s politics, media and public life.
Mladic is Dead, and My Serb Grandfather Was Right About His Fate (August 28, 2026)
From Zvornik to Visegrad, Bosnian Serbs Keep Cult of Mladic Alive (August 31, 2026)
Women Survivors of Bosnia’s War Watch Tributes to Mladic with Despair (September 1, 2026)
A Question of Justice: What I Learned from Watching Ratko Mladic’s Trial (September 1, 2026)
Serbia’s Grief Over Mladic’s Death is Neither Honourable Nor Dignified (September 2, 2026)
Overshadowed election
Bosnia and Herzegovina’s general election campaign is under way, but there is little sign that the political script has changed. Analysts expect a familiar mix of recycled promises, public spending to secure voters’ loyalty and ethno-national mobilisation, even as new voting technology makes election-day manipulation harder than before.
One thing is different. The death of the convicted war criminal Ratko Mladic has quickly entered the campaign, reviving old battles over war crimes, national identity and the glorification of wartime figures. Our report looks at how Mladic’s legacy could overshadow the campaign and help politicians to divert attention from corruption, economic problems and other concerns.
Clearing the hurdles
Montenegro looks like the frontrunner to become the EU’s next member, but neighbouring Croatia has made clear that it cannot join the club with unresolved bilateral disputes. From war compensation and missing persons to a disputed naval training ship, the two former Yugoslav republics still have some arguments to settle.
The biggest hurdle may be their unresolved border. With Croatia effectively holding a veto over Montenegro’s EU bid, our report looks at whether Zagreb’s demands could really derail accession or whether pressure from the EU’s bigger players will ultimately push the two neighbours towards a compromise.
Polluted seas
Greece is famous for its crystal-clear waters, but beneath the surface there can be a different picture. From sun loungers and abandoned fishing nets to huge quantities of plastic, parts of the Aegean and Ionian seabeds are turning into what environmental campaigners describe as “marine landfills”.
Cleaning them up is costly and, at greater depths, sometimes practically impossible. Our report dives into the scale of Greece’s underwater waste problem and why experts say preventing plastic and other rubbish from reaching the sea in the first place is the only sustainable solution.
Joining forces
Russian drones are increasingly straying into Romanian and Moldovan airspace as Moscow targets Ukrainian ports and infrastructure near their borders. The incursions are raising concerns about their immediate security, and about whether Russia is testing its neighbours’ defences and ability to respond.
Romania, Moldova and Ukraine are now looking to deepen cooperation, including through the joint development of drones and counter-drone systems. Our report looks at how the growing aerial threat from the east is bringing the three neighbours closer together and accelerating efforts to build a shared regional defence.
Expanding ties
Israel may be facing mounting international pressure over Gaza, but its defence industry is expanding across the Balkans, with growing arms deals, joint ventures and political ties from Serbia and Croatia to Albania and Kosovo.
Writing for Balkan Insight, researcher Roy Aloni examines how Balkan governments are deepening their access to Israeli military technology despite the controversy surrounding Israel’s actions – and what this expanding relationship could mean for security and stability in a region still shaped by the legacy of war.
Source: balkaninsight.com
