Candidate for BiH Presidency attends criminal Ratko Mladic's funeral

The funeral of Ratko Mladic, the former commander of the Army of Republika Srpska, sentenced to life imprisonment for genocide and war crimes, was also attended by DNS president Nenad Nesic.

The funeral is being held today at the Topçider Cemetery in Belgrade, where a number of politicians and officials from Republika Srpska have also arrived.

Asked in what capacity he was at the funeral, Nesic said he had not come as the holder of any official function, but as a member of the Serbian people.

"I came to express my respect to the general," Nesic said.

He added that he had come to Belgrade “in his capacity as a Serb,” as a citizen of Republika Srpska and a member of the Serbian people.

The journalist asked him if he considered it wrong to attend the funeral of a person convicted of war crimes.

"If I thought it was wrong, I wouldn't be here. I came to pay my respects to the general. Long live Serbia. Long live Republika Srpska," Nesic replied.

Other politicians from Republika Srpska also attended the funeral.

Among them are Branko Blanuša, candidate for president of Republika Srpska, as well as Marinko Božović, candidate for member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina from the ranks of the Serbian people.

Their participation in the funeral comes at a time when Mladic's burial has sparked strong reactions about the way in which Serbia and Republika Srpska are treating the figure of the former Bosnian Serb commander, who was convicted of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.

The GeoPost