Bosnia war victims associations urge Serbia to apply equal standards on war crimes

In a joint statement, the civil society groups noted that while official Belgrade frequently highlights the glorification of controversial symbols and the treatment of Serb victims in neighbouring nations, it systematically fails to address the glorification of convicted war criminals within Serbia.

The organisations specifically cited public murals dedicated to Ratko Mladic and other convicted figures, nationalist chants at sporting events, and regular media appearances by individuals convicted of war crimes.

The associations emphasised that freedom of expression cannot serve as a justification for glorifying atrocities, adding that a state demanding adherence to international law from others must apply those same principles domestically.

"Patriotism is not measured by hatred toward others or by blindly justifying crimes committed in the name of one’s own people, but by a society’s ability to honestly and courageously confront its own past," the joint statement read.

Concluding their appeal, the groups stressed that meaningful regional reconciliation requires equal respect for all victims and strict alignment with final judicial verdicts delivered in war crimes cases.