Four experts interviewed by BIRN have characterized the lavish funeral of Ratko Mladic as indicative of complicity by the government of Serbia. While acknowledging the event sent a deeply unsettling message, the experts stressed it doesn’t reflect the views of Serbian society as a whole. They described the funeral as a “state-sponsored event,” implying direct or indirect support from governmental entities within Serbia. This support raises concerns about the commitment of Serbia to fully address its wartime past and cooperate with international tribunals. The experts suggest the display was a deliberate act, intended to honor Mladic despite his convictions for war crimes. However, they also cautioned against generalizing these actions to the entire population of Serbia, recognizing a diversity of opinions and perspectives. The incident is viewed as a significant indictment of the current political climate in Serbia.