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Life Sentence Upheld Despite Health Concerns
The UN International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals has denied former Bosnian Serb military leader Ratko Mladic's request for early release due to medical reasons. The 83-year-old convicted war criminal continues to serve his life sentence at the UN detention center in The Hague.
Health Assessment and Court Ruling
Presiding Judge Graciela Gatti Santana acknowledged Mladic's declining health but stated that medical evidence doesn't support immediate release. "Uncontested medical advice shows Mladic is nearing life's end, as all humans do," she declared, adding that he lacks an acute terminal condition justifying freedom.
Background of War Crimes
Mladic was convicted in 2017 for genocide, crimes against humanity, and war violations during the 1992-1995 Bosnian conflict. His forces perpetrated the Srebrenica massacre in July 1995, systematically killing over 8,000 Bosnian Muslim males. The tribunal rejected Mladic's defense that subordinates acted independently, confirming his direct command responsibility.
Current Detention Conditions
The court determined Mladic's health remains "fragile but stable" with adequate medical care available at the detention facility. Medical records indicate cognitive impairments and multiple hospitalizations this year, though specifics were redacted from public documents.
