Human Rights Action (HRA) strongly condemns the graffiti glorifying Ratko Mladić written on a retaining wall outside the home of Bosniak Party MP Kenana Strujić-Harbić in Pljevlja.

Glorifying a man who was finally convicted of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes against Bosniaks, outside the home of a Bosniak Party MP, sends a particularly disturbing message. It must also be investigated as a possible threat against the MP and her family.

Any glorification of Ratko Mladić as a hero is unacceptable. In this context, the reaction of the President of the Municipality of Pljevlja is also deeply concerning. While condemning the graffiti, he also stressed that “everyone has the right to their own view of national heroes and the nation to which we belong.” Such a statement contradicts and undermines his condemnation of the graffiti.

Portraying a man who was finally convicted of systematic crimes against tens of thousands of people in Srebrenica, Sarajevo and elsewhere in Bosnia and Herzegovina as a “national hero” does not contribute to peace and demonstrates disrespect for the rule of law and human rights.

We call on the police and the State Prosecutor’s Office to urgently and thoroughly identify the person who wrote the graffiti and prosecute them in accordance with the law.

Every piece of graffiti glorifying war criminals incites national or religious hatred and must therefore be prosecuted. In this case, it is also very possible that the graffiti represents a direct threat to the family and endangers the safety of those whose home it was written outside. This must be investigated.

Had the perpetrators of previous similar incidents been promptly identified and punished, this incident would probably not have occurred. The State Prosecutor’s Office must investigate and prosecute hate speech in Montenegro more effectively in order to suppress it and prevent it from further damaging inter-ethnic relations.

We expect the state to respond effectively, ensure the safety of MP Strujić-Harbić and her family, and promptly inform the public about all actions taken and their outcomes.