Serbian minister reveals everything about Ratko Mladic's last days in Hague

Photo: Tanjug/AP

Justice Minister Nenad Vujic appeared on K1 TV this morning and spoke about Serbia's requests for Ratko Mladic to spend the last days of his life in Serbia. Vujic said that four letters were sent from August 20 until Mladic's death on Thursday, and the Serbian side warned that his health was such that he had only days left to live.

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Vujic said that, after medical assessments were made regarding the seriousness of Mladic's condition, it was legitimate to raise the issue of humanitarian treatment of a man in the final stages of life.

"It is legitimate to raise the issue of a humane approach. Even after the first medical report, which was not made by independent experts or doctors from Serbia, but by doctors from the prison hospital, we received information that palliative treatment is necessary. They even emphasized that the family should come as soon as possible. All the signals said that the end is near," Vujic said.

He explained that Serbia immediately requested that Mladic be released for humanitarian reasons.

"When a person is in such a phase of life, the purpose of punishment loses its meaning. These are also international standards," said the minister.

Vujic stressed that palliative care includes not only medical therapy, but also the possibility for a seriously ill person to spend their last days with their family.

"The humanitarian aspect is primary, especially when you have a person whose life is measured in days. In palliative care, there is another segment, which is the family environment. These are medical and humanitarian rules," Vujic said.

According to him, because of this, Serbia requested the immediate release of Ratko Mladic, but the president of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals rejected that request on August 20.

After another worsening of Mladic's health, the request was repeated.

Vujic stated that the Serbian authorities received information that part of the therapy that Mladic had been receiving due to other illnesses was being cut off.

"We noted that the treatment protocols were not fulfilled either. In such situations, regardless of palliative care, the treatment of associated diseases continues as long as possible. This is not only our protocol, but an international medical standard," said the minister.

Serbia sent a total of four letters from August 20 until Mladic's death.

"We received answers that independent experts were hired, who confirmed what we pointed out to. They stated that medical care was provided, but also spoke about the humanitarian aspect and the importance of the presence of family, children, and grandchildren," said Vujic.

He added that the Serbian side repeatedly warned that this was a very short period of time.

"We warned that it was a matter of days and that this should not be approached lightly. Yesterday, just as we were finishing a letter to the secretary general of the United Nations, in which we talked about the need for his intervention, the news arrived that the general had passed away," Vujic said.

Vujic added that after everything that has happened he still wonders if Serbia could have done more.

"I keep wondering if something else could have been done. Yesterday, because of rush and because we hoped that maybe at some point they would make a decision, we already started looking at a medical plane for transport. We also contacted the VMA in advance, in order to prepare medical protocols if they asked us, so that everything was ready," Vujic said.

Vujic also spoke about the issue of the application of Mandela's rules, stating that no direct and coherent answer was received to the request for exemption. President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic previously also addressed the Mechanism, requesting that Mladic spends his last days in a hospital in Serbia, with state guarantees.

When asked whether Belgrade now has room to request a review of the way Mladic was treated during the last days of his life, Vujic replied that Serbia will take advantage of that opportunity.

"There is room that we will use and we will address it. The president of the Mechanism saw it. We received a notification last night that she ordered an investigation. I will send a letter stating that the investigation should not only be for the purpose of determining the cause of death, but should also include the question of whether he received adequate treatment during the last days of his life," Vujic said.

He stressed that all requests and guarantees were sent by Serbia with the support of President Aleksandar Vucic.

Speaking about the next steps, he said that more information is expected regarding the procedure that the Mechanism will implement after the opening of the investigation.

"Today we will know more about their procedures, what the opening of the investigation means and whether it will slow down body repatriation. We are ready to leave for The Hague as soon as we know what the next steps are, with strict respect for the wishes of General Mladic's family," Vujic said, adding that the family will have the last word.

"General Mladic will certainly (be buried) with all military and state honors that belong to him, when it comes to the state. The family will decide where (he will be buried)."

(Telegraf.rs/K1 TV)