DARKO MLADIĆ EXPECTS DECISION ON GENERAL'S RELEASE FOR TREATMENT BY FRIDAY

BELGRADE, APRIL 28 /SRNA/ – Darko Mladić said he expected a swift decision by Friday, May 1, by the end of the day on the request for General Ratko Mladić to be released for medical treatment in Serbia, after the president of the Mechanism requested an additional expert opinion on the existence of humanitarian grounds related to his health.

"She set a short deadline for the expert assessment. It is not an excessive delay, so we can wait until Friday. I just hope the general will still be alive by then," Darko Mladić told SRNA. He expressed hope that this represents a positive step, reminding that both Serbian and Hague detention doctors agree that General Mladić is in a terminal condition. Darko Mladić said that the registrar of the tribunal had been instructed by Mechanism President Graciela Gatti Santana to engage independent experts, likely based on specific criteria. "Those experts, along with our doctors, should review the documentation, examine the patient and provide their opinion. All of that can be completed within a day," Darko Mladić believes. He explained that independent doctors must submit their report by Friday, after which Judge Gatti Santana will make a decision, although it is unclear how long she will need. He added that he had been aware of the order requesting additional expert opinion since last Friday but could not comment earlier as it was confidential. Darko Mladić also said he had requested today to be contacted by The Hague in order to communicate with his father, but that did not happen. The President of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals /IRMCT/ Graciela Gatti Santana ordered that a report by independent experts assessing General Mladić's current health condition, including diagnoses, prognosis, and treatment options, be completed by Friday, May 1. Ratko Mladić's legal team submitted a request on Thursday, April 23, seeking his conditional release on humanitarian grounds due to his deteriorating health. General Ratko Mladić suffered a stroke on April 10, and his condition has further worsened, with serious neurological, cardiovascular and renal issues. He has been held in the detention hospital in the Hague since 2024, where he is receiving palliative care due to his severe health condition. The Mechanism has previously rejected multiple requests for his temporary release for treatment in Serbia.