Bosnia, 37 army members under investigation for glorifying war criminal Ratko Mladic

The Minister of Defense of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Zukan Helez, has reported 37 members of the Armed Forces for glorifying war criminal Ratko Mladic and activities related to his honor.

Of the 37 reported cases, 10 were classified as criminal offenses and, together with the collected evidence, were sent to the Prosecutor's Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Helez has stated that the Armed Forces of BiH will not allow persons who deny genocide or glorify war criminals to serve in their ranks.

"The Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina will not be an institution where persons who deny genocide, glorify war criminals or glorify persons convicted by final verdict for genocide and the most serious war crimes will serve," Helez said.

According to him, investigations will continue against 27 other members. If the General Inspectorate of the Ministry of Defense determines that there have been violations of the law and elements of criminal liability, these cases will also be forwarded to the BiH Prosecutor's Office.

Among the reported persons are two new members of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina, who were recently accepted into service and are currently undergoing training.

Helez has warned that, if they are found responsible, their contracts will be terminated.

Ratko Mladic, the former commander of the Army of Republika Srpska, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes committed during the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina. His responsibility for the genocide in Srebrenica has been definitively confirmed by international courts.

The glorification of Mladić and the denial of genocide have been condemned by the European Union, the United States, the United Nations, the Office of the High Representative in BiH, and other international institutions.

The legislation of Bosnia and Herzegovina provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison for public denial of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes determined by final decisions, as well as for glorifying convicted war criminals.