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// DOSSIER — bosnia-herzegovina-expels-serbian-diplomats-ratko-mladic-funeral
Bosnia and Herzegovina Expels Serbian Diplomats Amid Fallout From Ratko Mladić's Funeral
REL_TIME: 10 Sep 2026 04:12Z · LANG: EN
Bosnia and Herzegovina has ordered two Serbian diplomats to leave the country within 48 hours and withdrawn support for a regional cooperation declaration, escalating diplomatic tensions following official Serbian involvement in the funeral of convicted war criminal Ratko Mladić. Foreign Minister Elmedin Konaković declared military attaché Milan Dulanović and BIA adviser Darko Maksimović persona non grata, citing the crossing of all red lines by Serbian officials. The moves follow widespread domestic and international condemnation of the state honors and high-level attendance at Mladić's burial in Belgrade, with European Union leaders also criticizing the official support.
// Background
Ratko Mladić, the former Bosnian Serb military commander known as the 'Butcher of Bosnia,' was convicted of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) for atrocities including the 1995 Srebrenica genocide. He died in prison in The Hague on August 27, 2026, while serving a life sentence. His repatriation using a government aircraft and subsequent official funeral in Belgrade on September 7, 2026—attended by senior Serbian government figures and church leaders—sparked immediate regional and international outrage.
// Key Developments
- Bosnia and Herzegovina declared two Serbian embassy officials—military attaché Milan Dulanović and BIA adviser Darko Maksimović—persona non grata, giving them 48 hours to leave.
- Sarajevo withdrew its consent to a joint regional cooperation declaration scheduled to be signed on October 1 in Montenegro.
- Bosnia announced plans to withdraw almost all diplomatic staff from its embassy in Belgrade, reducing diplomatic relations to a minimum.
- European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa criticized official Serbian support for Mladić's funeral as contrary to EU values.
- Serbian Interior Minister Ivica Dačić defended Belgrade's handling of the funeral, stating that Serbia was defending its national interests.
// Timeline
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Ratko Mladić dies in prison in The Hague while serving a life sentence.
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Mladić is buried in Belgrade in an official ceremony attended by numerous Serbian government officials and ministers.
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Bosnian Foreign Minister Elmedin Konaković announces the expulsion of two Serbian diplomats, the withdrawal of most staff from the Bosnian Embassy in Belgrade, and the suspension of support for the October 1 regional declaration.
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Date of the regional cooperation declaration in Montenegro that Bosnia and Herzegovina withdrew its consent from.
// Perspectives
[Bosnia and Herzegovina (Foreign Ministry)]
Views official Serbian participation in Mladić's funeral and the glorification of a convicted war criminal as crossing all red lines, prompting diplomatic expulsions, staff withdrawals, and a freeze on regional agreements.
[Serbia (Government/Ministry of Foreign Affairs)]
Defends the handling of the repatriation and funeral as a matter of defending national interests and rejects foreign interference or criticism.
[European Union Leadership]
Condemns the official support and high-level attendance at Mladić's funeral, noting it contradicts the political values and commitments required of an EU candidate country.
// Quotes
“Until normal politicians emerge who are ready for compromise and agreement, you will never again insult and humiliate us.”
“We will not sign such declarations, empty papers, as long as we have the Serbia we are looking at these days, the Serbia of the 1990s, which is truly warning us that things are not normal.”
“They crossed every red line.”
