AF BiH Soldiers and Social Media: Glorifying Ratko Mladić Punished with 'Reprimand'

A member of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina (AF BiH) Đorđe Tojčić was punished with a “reprimand” after disciplinary proceedings were initiated against him for glorifying Ratko Mladić, who was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Hague Tribunal in a first-instance verdict for genocide in Srebrenica and other crimes committed in BiH, reports Detektor.ba.

On the day of Mladić’s verdict in The Hague, November 22 last year, Tojčić posted a picture of Mladić’s military cap from the war on his Instagram profile, with the caption: “Europe knows, but doesn’t want to admit, the general fought against terrorism.”

In the description of the picture, Tojčić added the message on his Instagram profile: “Thanks for everything!!”, and disciplinary proceedings were initiated after the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BIRN BiH) wrote about the event.

“The proceedings against soldier Đorđe Tojčić concluded with the imposition of the disciplinary measure ‘reprimand’”, stated the Ministry of Defence (MoD).

The Ministry also added that they have taken additional measures to prevent such situations in the future.

“Enhanced preventive measures have been taken for such and similar incidents, including by informing members of the AF BiH in more detail about the conduct of AF BiH members on social networks, in accordance with existing rules and documents related to this area”, stated the Ministry of Defence.

In addition to this post on his Instagram profile, Tojčić had several other pictures that were the subject of the complaint.

Tojčić is not the only member of the AF who has glorified individuals accused or convicted of war crimes.

In the past period, seven cases have been recorded where members of the AF BiH glorified individuals convicted by the Hague Tribunal on social networks.

“They were issued appropriate measures in accordance with the valid regulations in the MoD and AF BiH, depending on the severity of the committed omission, after disciplinary proceedings were conducted”, stated the Ministry.

In November last year, the Hague Tribunal sentenced Mladić to life imprisonment for genocide in Srebrenica, persecution of Bosniaks and Croats throughout BiH, terrorizing the citizens of Sarajevo through a campaign of shelling and sniping, and taking UNPROFOR members hostage.

Mladić was acquitted of genocide committed in 1992.

The defence and Hague prosecutors have filed appeals, and the final verdict is expected next year.