Srebrenica Memorial Center and Mothers of Srebrenica respond to Ratko Mladic's death

"Ratko Mladic is dead and there is not much to say there. Nor does that fact change much. It does not bring back the dead. It does not erase mass graves. It does not change verdicts. It does not turn a criminal into a historical figure," Suljagic wrote on X.

Recalling his personal encounter during the conflict, Suljagic noted that he looked the commander in the eye in July 1995 in Potocari, observing a man who had already decided the fate of those around him. He emphasized that Mladic died in prison, convicted of genocide and grave crimes, while the people he sent to their deaths were denied the chance to grow old, which remains the only important fact regarding his passing. Suljagic added that the more difficult task now is ensuring that truth, responsibility, and memory do not die with him.

Mothers of Srebrenica: Justice served through a full life sentence

Kada Hotic, vice president of the Association "Movement of Mothers of the Srebrenica and Zepa Enclaves," stated regarding the death of the convicted war criminal that the most crucial aspect for victim families is that The Hague Tribunal kept its word and enforced the life sentence without reduction or mitigation.

"I am grateful to the Hague Tribunal for keeping their word and keeping him in prison for the rest of his life. His sentence was life imprisonment and that remains in the archive for all time. It would have been extremely difficult for me if they had released him prematurely. This way, the sentence remained as it was pronounced and I thank them for that," Hotic stated in an interview with Anadolu Agency.

Reflecting on Mladic's role in the fall of Srebrenica and the genocide against Bosniaks, Hotic emphasized that all consequences facing families today stem directly from his orders, noting that she would not be searching for the bones of her family members today had he not entered Potocari, and that his fate should serve as a lasting lesson for future generations and followers.