UN Secretary-General condemns genocide denial and glorification of convicted war criminals in Bosnia

The spokesperson for the Secretary-General, Stephane Dujarric, said Guterres had again called on all authorities to refrain from denying the gravity of crimes for which courts have issued verdicts.

“Court findings are final, and the facts unequivocally established by them are part of the historical record,” the statement said.

According to Dujarric, the Secretary-General condemned any denial of the Srebrenica genocide as a historical fact, as well as any actions that glorify individuals convicted by international courts of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.

“Accountability remains a crucial step toward lasting peace, trust and reconciliation in the region. The UN remains fully committed to supporting efforts aimed at establishing accountability and achieving justice for all,” the statement said.

Ratko Mladic, former commander of the Main Staff of the Army of Republika Srpska, was convicted of genocide and other crimes in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the Appeals Chamber of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals upheld his sentence on June 8, 2021. He died on August 27 at the Detention Unit in The Hague.