Council of Europe condemns Ratko Mladic glorification as crime
Michael O’Flaherty states public praise of convicted war criminal is illegal under Bosnian law.
AI-assisted coverage comparison, editor-supervised · How this was made
Council of Europe condemns Ratko Mladic glorification as crime
Photograph: Dnevni list Danas (embedded from source)
What this story says
- Michael O’Flaherty, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, condemned public glorification of Ratko Mladic.
- O’Flaherty stated that glorifying Mladic, convicted of genocide and war crimes, is a criminal offence under Bosnia and Herzegovina law.
- Mladic's body was transported to Belgrade and then to the Military Medical Academy.
- A funeral for Ratko Mladic is scheduled for September 7, 2026.
Who covered it
Percentages are shares of the 17 outlets carrying a published leaning rating. 19 of the 36 outlets we know ran this story carry no rating and are not counted in them. Coverage measured .
Trust
42/100
Craft
61/100
Hype
41/100
36 sources · methodology
The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, has condemned the public glorification of Ratko Mladic, who was convicted of genocide in Srebrenica and crimes against humanity. O’Flaherty stated that such glorification constitutes a criminal offence under the laws of Bosnia and Herzegovina and is not protected by the European Convention on Human Rights. He called on all relevant bodies to oppose the glorification of convicted war criminals and to fulfil their legal obligations.
Mladic's body was transported from The Hague to Belgrade and then to the Military Medical Academy. A funeral is scheduled for September 7, 2026. Reports indicate that details about the funeral were to be announced by the family.
Disagreement on funeral details
Dnevni list Danas reported that the family would announce funeral details. None of the other reports mention who would announce funeral details.
What the coverage left out
None of the left-rated digests mention the specific date Ratko Mladic died. The centre-rated report and the right-rated report do not mention that O’Flaherty stated that glorification constitutes a criminal offence under the laws of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Coverage settled. We checked this 8 times and stopped on 9 Sept 2026, 22:45. The figures above are what it finished at.
How each side covered it
Our own reading of the reporting listed below, written from the outlets’ articles rather than quoted from them. The reasoning is set out on our methodology page.
Left
9 rated outlets
- The reports all state that Michael O’Flaherty, the Council of Europe’s human‑rights commissioner, denounced public celebrations of Ratko Mladic as illegal and an insult to victims, and said such acts constitute a crime under Bosnian law. Danas published his full statement, while the digests from KALLXO.com, Le Monde, delo.si, Liberation, Taipei Times, SRF and Telegrafi each led on the same condemnation.
- The outlets also reported that Mladic’s remains were moved from The Hague to Belgrade and that a burial with military honours was being arranged. Danas noted the transport and upcoming funeral details; Taipei Times added that an EU official cancelled a visit over the planned honours; Telegrafi highlighted condemnation from Bosnian survivor groups; Liberation mentioned portraits of Mladic in his hometown; SRF observed that many people venerated him.
- The digests do not contain any cost estimates related to the burial or security arrangements, and none provide a detailed legal analysis beyond stating that the glorification is a crime. They also omit statements from Serbian government officials, offering only reactions from survivor groups and the EU commissioner.
Centre
3 rated outlets
- The centre-rated report from Radio France Internationale focused on the Council of Europe's denunciation of the "glorification of a war criminal". It stated that the Council of Europe recalled that such acts are a "crime" under Bosnian law. The report mentioned that Mladic, the former military leader of the Bosnian Serbs, died on August 27 in his prison in The Hague. It also noted that his remains were repatriated to Belgrade on September 3 with military honours, ahead of a funeral scheduled for September 7.
Right
5 rated outlets
- The right-rated report from Protothema highlighted reactions to the glorification of the "Butcher of Bosnia", Ratko Mladic, stating that the Council of Europe described it as a "crime". The report mentioned that backlash followed memorial services for the former Bosnian Serb military leader, who died in The Hague prison.
Questions about this coverage
- How did the left and right cover Council of Europe condemns Ratko Mladic glorification as crime?
- Of the 17 outlets on this story carrying a published leaning rating, 53% are rated left, 18% are rated centre, 29% are rated right. Those percentages are shares of the rated outlets, not of every outlet that ran it, which was 36. The sections above set out what each side emphasised, in its own terms.
- Is Council of Europe condemns Ratko Mladic glorification as crime left or right?
- Neither side dominates it. Of the 17 rated outlets on this story, 53% are rated left, 18% are rated centre, 29% are rated right, and no side holds the 70% this site would want before calling a field one-sided. A story is not left or right in any case; the outlets that carried it are what carry ratings.
- Is the coverage of Council of Europe condemns Ratko Mladic glorification as crime biased?
- Council of Europe condemns Ratko Mladic glorification as crime is one event reported by 36 outlets, and this page does not rate the story as biased or unbiased. What it publishes is the spread: which outlets ran it, where named rating organisations place each of them on the spectrum, and what each side chose to lead with. A leaning rating describes an outlet's record over time, not this article, and the two should not be run together.
- Which outlets covered Council of Europe condemns Ratko Mladic glorification as crime?
- 36 that we know of, every one of them listed further up this page with a link to its own report and to what we hold on the publisher. Nothing here is a summary of somebody else's summary: the outlets are named so the original reporting can be read.
- What did the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights say about Ratko Mladic?
- Michael O’Flaherty condemned the public glorification of Ratko Mladic, stating it is a criminal offence under Bosnian law and not protected free speech. He called on authorities to oppose such acts and ensure accountability.
- Who was Ratko Mladic and why was he convicted?
- Ratko Mladic was the former military leader of the Bosnian Serbs. He was convicted of genocide in Srebrenica and crimes against humanity during the Bosnian War.
- When is Ratko Mladic's funeral scheduled?
- A funeral for Ratko Mladic is scheduled to take place on September 7, 2026. His body was transported to Belgrade for the funeral arrangements.
Read it at the source
36 outlets, grouped by the leaning a published rating gives them. Every headline links to the original; an underlined outlet name opens our profile of that publisher.
Left
9- So Mr Burnham, will you refuse to be an apologist for Israel as PM? (opens The Herald Scotland in a new tab)
The Herald Scotland — is The Herald Scotland biased? Our profile of this outletOpinion
- War criminal Ratko Mladic to be buried tomorrow, son says (opens Taipei Times in a new tab)
Taipei Times — is Taipei Times biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Serbia Prepares to Bury Mladic with Honors, Bosnian War Survivors React Harshly (opens Telegrafi in a new tab)
- In His Hometown, Ratko Mladic Celebrated as a Hero (opens Liberation in a new tab)
Liberation — is Liberation biased? Our profile of this outlet
- O'Flaherty From the Council of Europe: Glorification of War Criminal Ratko Mladic Is Illegal and an Insult to the Victims (opens Raporto Korrupsionin! KALLXO.com in a new tab)
- Burial for War Criminals: Ratko Mladic Is Venerated in Serbia (opens Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen (SRF) in a new tab)
- The "Glorification" of Ratko Mladic, a Former Serbian General Convicted of Genocide, Is a Crime Under the Law in Bosnia, Recalls the Council of Europe (opens Le Monde in a new tab)
- Commissioner Marta Kos: Glorification of War Criminals Has No Place in the EU (opens delo.si in a new tab)
Centre
3- Bosnia: Mladic, "the Bosnian Butcher", Buried on Monday in Belgrade (opens France24 in a new tab)
- Ratko Mladic's Funeral Instrumentalized: "It's Coming to the Victims' House to Spit in Their face." (opens La Libre in a new tab)
- Tributes to Ratko Mladic: the Council of Europe Denounces the “Glorification of a War Criminal” (opens Radio France Internationale in a new tab)
Radio France Internationale — is Radio France Internationale biased? Our profile of this outlet
Right
5- Funerals of Mladic, the Victim of Sarajevo: "A Defeat of Memory" (opens Il Sole 24 Ore in a new tab)
Il Sole 24 Ore — is Il Sole 24 Ore biased? Our profile of this outletOpinion
- Serbian Government Members and Military Honor War Criminal Ratko Mladic (opens Observador in a new tab)
Observador — is Observador biased? Our profile of this outlet
- EU Outrage with Serbia at the Farewell with Honors to Mladic: "The Values that Underpin Our Common Future Are Not Negotiable" (opens El Mundo in a new tab)
- Serbia Offers Controversial Funerals to Ratko Mladic, the War Criminal Serving a Life Sentence (opens Le Figaro in a new tab)
- Reactions to the Glorification of the "Butcher of Bosnia" Mladic in Banja Luka: "It Is a Crime" Says the Council of Europe (opens Protothema in a new tab)
Protothema — is Protothema biased? Our profile of this outlet
Not rated
19- The Burial of Ratko Mladic as a European Test for Serbia: Between Facing the Past and Rehabilitating the Politics of War - The Geopost (opens TheGeopost in a new tab)
TheGeopost — is TheGeopost biased? Our profile of this outlet
- The Disputed Farewell From Serbia to the Bosnian Butcher (opens Le Singulier in a new tab)
Le Singulier — is Le Singulier biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Roth: I Never Thought that Criminal Mladic Would Receive Honors in Belgrade (opens kosova.info in a new tab)
kosova.info — is kosova.info biased? Our profile of this outletOpinion
- Serbia Prepares to Bury Ratko Mladic with Honors, Bosnian War Survivors React Sharply (opens Gazeta Shqiptare Online in a new tab)
Gazeta Shqiptare Online — is Gazeta Shqiptare Online biased? Our profile of this outlet
- The Council of Europe Considers that the Defense of Bosnian Serb War Criminal Ratko Mladic Is a Crime (opens Ecopolitic in a new tab)
Ecopolitic — is Ecopolitic biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Government Special Transport Brings Back Mladic's Remains. Croatia and Slovenia Condemn His Glorification (opens Hospodárske Noviny in a new tab)
Hospodárske Noviny — is Hospodárske Noviny biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Death of Ratko Mladic: Why Does the Balkan Butcher Remain Widely Admired in Serbia? (opens La Croix in a new tab)
- 'Balkan Butcher': EU Denounces Serbian Exaltation Condemned for Genocide in the Bosnian War (opens Terra in a new tab)
Show 11 more
- Council of Europe Commissioner: Glorification of Ratko Mladic Is a Criminal Offense (opens Indeksonline.net in a new tab)
Indeksonline.net — is Indeksonline.net biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Council of Europe Rejects Glorification of Mladic (opens Magyar Nemzet in a new tab)
Magyar Nemzet — is Magyar Nemzet biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Council of Europe Commissioner on the Glorification of Mladić: "I Abhor Such Messages From the RS and Serbia" | Face | The only Independent Media House (opens face.ba in a new tab)
- Council of Europe: Apotheosis of Mladic Is a Crime (opens Naftemporiki in a new tab)
Naftemporiki — is Naftemporiki biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Council of Europe: The Glorification of Ratko Mladic Constitutes a Crime (opens ΑΘΗΝΑ 9,84 in a new tab)
ΑΘΗΝΑ 9,84 — is ΑΘΗΝΑ 9,84 biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Council of Europe: 'Deathizing Ratko Mladic Constitutes a Crime' Under Bosnian Law (opens OnAlert in a new tab)
- Council of Europe Commissioner: Glorifying Ratko Mladic Is a Criminal Offence (opens Naslovi.net in a new tab)
Naslovi.net — is Naslovi.net biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Council of Europe: The Glorification of Ratko Mladic Is a Crime (opens Business Daily in a new tab)
Business Daily — is Business Daily biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights: Glorification of Ratko Mladić Is Illegal and an Insult to the Victims (opens autonomija.info in a new tab)
autonomija.info — is autonomija.info biased? Our profile of this outlet
- O'Flaherty - Glorifying War Criminal Ratko Mladić Is Illegal and an Insult to the Victims (opens Radiotelevizija Herceg-Bosne in a new tab)
Radiotelevizija Herceg-Bosne — is Radiotelevizija Herceg-Bosne biased? Our profile of this outletOpinion
- Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights: The Glorification of Ratko Mladić Is Illegal and an Insult to the Victims (opens n1info.rs in a new tab)
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