Darko Mladic: Request for Gen Mladic's release for treatment in Serbia rejected

BELGRADE,- Darko Mladic, the son of former Republika Srpska Army General Ratko Mladic, said on Thursday the Hague-based International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT) had rejected a request for his father's temporary release from prison for medical treatment in Serbia.

"For who knows how many times now, the Hague tribunal has demonstrated that what it is doing is about politics, and not about law and justice," Darko Mladic told the Republika Srpska news agency SRNA in a comment.

He said the IRMCT's explanation was that the general had the best possible doctors providing the best possible care - doctors who had treated him for urinary infections after he had suffered a stroke.

"They are doctors who failed to detect a stroke before he suffered another one. That level of cynicism at the Hague tribunal has become unbelievable," Darko Mladic said.

An April 10 stroke further exacerbated General Mladic's serious health condition and he has severe neurological, cardiovascular and nephrological problems.

Due to a suspected stroke, he was transferred from a detention hospital to a civilian hospital on May 2.

Since a stroke was not confirmed at the time, he was taken back to the detention hospital.

General Mladic has been in palliative care in the detention hospital since 2024.

To date, the IRMCT has rejected several requests for Mladic's temporary release for treatment in Serbia.