The mechanism that sentenced Ratko Mladic to life in prison had nothing to do with law and justice, it was "an attempt to create a myth about the genocide in Srebrenica that never happened," Bosnian Serb Presidency Chairman Milorad Dodik said after the verdict on Tuesday, adding that "the Serb people suffered the most in the wars after the break-up of Yugoslavia"

“When the Hague tribunal was formed, it was said that it would work on establishing the responsibility of those who committed crimes, it would increase trust among peoples and bring back what everyone wants – to better understand each other and function with each other. That first goal was not achieved because 96,000 people died in BiH, of which 29,000 were Serbs. Only two percent of convictions for crimes against Serbs have been handed down. What kind of justice is that where Ganic, Dudakovic, Oric, Gotovina and others who committed crimes against Serbs are listening [to the verdict] in their homes from freedom. They were protected by the Mechanism. No one will convince Serbs that Naser Oric has no responsibility for the killings. Another goal – to reconcile peoples was a delusion. With its decisions, the Hague Tribunal, as a form of selective justice punishing Serbs above all, contributed to the fact that distrust among peoples exists even more. That goal that has been set has not been achieved. The confidence in international justice has been destroyed,” Dodik said.

He pointed out that “the Court failed to prove Mladic's direct responsibility and that they were instructed that he should answer for the known and unknown crimes.”

“They are trying to preserve the careers of western people in power. They said Serbs killed over 300,000 Bosniaks and raped 60,000 of their wives. That turned out to be incorrect, but that framework was made to demonize Serbs as much as possible. The consequences of political processes remain. We the Serbs must learn that we cannot change that. General Mladic was sent directly to the legend. Without his command and spirit, the Serb people would have suffered even more. Serbs are the biggest victims of the disintegration of Yugoslavia. They suffered in Slovenia, Croatia, Kosovo, North Macedonia, in [Bosnia's Federation entity] FBiH, in Montenegro they are fighting for their rights, etc.,” concluded Dodik.

Ratko Mladic, the Bosnian Serb army general, was sentenced to life in prison by the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (MICT), Tuesday, confirming the first instance verdict.