Across the countries of the former Yugoslavia, the International Day of the Disappeared, 30 August 2026, was marked largely as a matter of protocol. Declarations of concern for all missing persons were not accompanied by joint demands, agreements on cooperation, or access to archival records that states treat as a matter of “national interest”.
The death of Ratko Mladić, the wartime commander of the Army of Republika Srpska, dominated the public sphere. Mladić was convicted by a final judgment of the genocide of approximately 8,000 Bosniaks in Srebrenica in July 1995; the persecution and forcible transfer of Bosniaks and Croats throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina; the sniping, shelling and terrorisation of civilians during the siege of Sarajevo; and the taking of UN peacekeepers hostage during the 1995 NATO air strikes. (Source: IRMCT, final judgment in the Mladić case, 8 June 2021.)
In Serbia and Republika Srpska, the authorities pushed the fate of those who went missing in the wars of the 1990s out of public view, replacing it with expressions of gratitude to Ratko Mladić for his alleged “defence of the Serbian people”, accusations that The Hague was responsible for his death, and messages that the state owed him a military funeral and state honours.
In Serbia, government-controlled media inflamed nationalist sentiment. Informer published the headline “Ratko Mladić Murdered”, claiming that his death was a “crime following torture in Scheveningen”, while Večernje novosti ran the headline “The Hague Killed the Creator of Srpska”. Informer TV announced that “the Hague Tribunal extinguished the general’s life”. Radio Television of Serbia opened its main news programme with archive footage of Mladić in uniform, without mentioning the crimes for which he had been sentenced by a final judgment to life imprisonment. (Source: Istinomer, 28 August 2026.)
A large mural depicting Ratko Mladić was painted in the centre of Obrenovac, bearing the message: “I will live as long as our kin and people endure. Even those who refuse will cross themselves.” After it was completed, people gathered in front of the mural, lit flares and set off fireworks in farewell. (Sources: NS Uživo and Glas Srpske, 1 September 2026.)
Serbian Minister of Justice Nenad Vujić was the first official to respond to the news of Ratko Mladić’s death. He informed the public that he had sent a team to The Hague to arrange the repatriation of the remains and that Mladić would be buried with the highest state and military honours. Miloš Vučević, president of the ruling party, spoke of officers who had “defended the Serbian people”, while Interior Minister Ivica Dačić accused the Hague Tribunal of showing its “anti-civilisational face” in the cases of Slobodan Milošević and Ratko Mladić. Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić toned down the justice minister’s announcement of state and military honours by referring to a “decent and dignified” funeral, to be arranged with the family. At the same time, he accused the Hague Tribunal of having wanted Mladić to die in prison and then spoke of “double standards”. (Sources: RTS, RTV, Blic and Reuters, 28 August 2026.)
In Zvornik, Republika Srpska, a march displaying his photographs and the flags of Serbia and Republika Srpska was organised only hours after Mladić’s death. Gatherings and religious services in his honour were held across Republika Srpska. In Bratunac, a memorial service was held at the Church of the Dormition of the Most Holy Mother of God and attended by many citizens and members of the local Veterans’ Organisation. A book of condolences was also opened in the Bratunac memorial room, where people recorded messages of gratitude. With the support of the Republika Srpska authorities, veterans’ organisations began collecting the details of people interested in organised travel to the funeral, even though neither the date nor the place of burial had yet been announced. (Source: SRNA, 28 August 2026.)
Unlike in Serbia, the International Day of the Disappeared was more visible in Bosnia and Herzegovina through gatherings of families, exhibitions and media reports. Even there, however, the observance was accompanied by reports about the announced state and military honours for Mladić in Serbia and the gatherings held in his honour in Republika Srpska. Representatives of state institutions and associations of families spoke of the need to locate all missing persons, but their specific statements and demands were again directed primarily towards victims from their own national communities.
Facts about the Missing
In Bosnia and Herzegovina, 7,588 persons are still missing. The Missing Persons Institute of Bosnia and Herzegovina states that approximately 900 people who disappeared following the fall of Srebrenica remain missing. According to Detektor, the families of ten identified victims have not yet consented to their burial, mainly because only incomplete sets of their remains have been found. DNA identifications exist for another 36 victims, but their families have not completed the formal identification procedure. (Sources: Missing Persons Institute of Bosnia and Herzegovina/Detektor, 28 August 2026, and Detektor, 2 July 2026.)
According to official data, 1,725 persons remain missing in Croatia: the fate of 1,341 persons is unknown, while 384 persons are known to have died but their burial sites remain unknown. The Croatian Ministry of Veterans’ Affairs states that the fate of 20 persons was resolved during 2026. They include six persons of Serbian ethnicity whose remains had been exhumed in Vinkovci, Pačetin, Donji Rajić, Petrinja, Dobropoljci and Zadar. (Sources: Croatian Ministry of Veterans’ Affairs, 30 August 2026; HLC records concerning identified persons of Serbian ethnicity, as of 1 September 2026.)
According to the records of the Veritas association, the fate of 1,462 persons of Serbian ethnicity from Croatia remains unresolved, including 1,053 civilians and 403 women. (Source: Veritas Documentation and Information Centre, 28 August 2026.)
Approximately 1,600 persons remain missing in connection with the war in Kosovo. (Source: ICMP, 27 August 2026.) The establishment of the Serbia–Kosovo Joint Commission and its first meeting in January 2026 did not lead to joint operational work. (Source: EEAS, 23 January 2026.) There is no public record of joint field verifications or exhumations, reciprocal access to locations and archives, or cases resolved through joint work. Serbia has not initiated the re-examination of any previously exhumed mass grave for which the Kosovo Commission on Missing Persons requested a renewed search. (Sources: HLC review of publicly available information through 1 September 2026; Radio Free Europe, 5 September 2024.)
The International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP) reported that, between September 2024 and August 2026, it submitted to the competent commissions 60 new DNA match reports that could lead to new identifications. (Source: ICMP, 27 August 2026.)
According to the records of the RECOM Reconciliation Network, HLC and HLC Kosovo, the identities of at least 33 missing persons were established between July 2024 and 1 September 2026. They include 31 Albanians and Ružica Štakić, a Montenegrin woman from Đakovica/Gjakovë. Their identities were established through DNA analysis carried out by ICMP. The Serbian Government Commission on Missing Persons also reported the identification of one Roma person, but the person’s name, the place and date of exhumation, and the date of identification have not been made public. (Sources: records of the RECOM Reconciliation Network, HLC and HLC Kosovo, as of 1 September 2026; Serbian Government Commission on Missing Persons, statement by Veljko Odalović, 28 August 2026.)
Missing Persons Identified in Connection with the War in Kosovo
30 July 2024–1 September 2026
(Source: Kosovo Memory Book Database)
Gani (Rifat and Mihane) Baleci
Gani died on 31 March 1999 in a hospital in Priština/Prishtinë from injuries sustained when the tractor he was driving overturned. Immediately after the war, the family learned that he had been buried in the cemetery in Matičane/Matiqan, but after some time the grave was relocated to a site unknown to the family. His remains were exhumed on 5 October 2023 in Matičane/Matiqan. The Institute of Forensic Medicine in Priština/Prishtinë issued the death and identification certificate in early July 2024.
Gani was buried on 14 July 2024 in Novo Čikatovo/Çikatovë e Re, municipality of Glogovac/Drenas.
Ružica (Nikola and Milosava) Štakić
Until 8 June 1999, Ružica worked as a cashier at the Kompresor company in Đakovica/Gjakovë. Her colleagues last saw her that day. Her remains were exhumed in Đakovica/Gjakovë, but the precise location is not known. The Institute of Forensic Medicine in Priština/Prishtinë issued the death and identification certificate on 16 October 2024.
She was buried on 11 April 2025 in Gnjili Potok near Andrijevica, Montenegro, where her mother is also buried.
Feriz (Haxhi and Zoje) Mrasori
Serbian forces executed Feriz and more than 100 other Albanian men on 31 March 1999 in Pusto Selo/Pastasellë. His remains were collected and buried by a family from Savrovo/Savrovë, who believed that they belonged to a member of their family. Twenty-four years later, the buried remains were exhumed. The autopsy established that the cause of death was a gunshot wound to the right side of the skull. The Institute of Forensic Medicine in Priština/Prishtinë issued the death and identification certificate in early December 2024.
Feriz was buried on 18 December 2024 in the war victims’ cemetery in Pusto Selo/Pastasellë.
Selman (Halit and Halumshahe) Dema
Selman was last seen on 4 May 1999 in the family’s Ilirajana household-appliance shop in Orahovac/Rahovec. In the presence of Dr Vekoslav Simić, members of the police of the Republic of Serbia took Selman, his wife and his brother away from the shop. His remains were exhumed on 26 October 2023 in Dušanovo/Arbenë near Prizren. The autopsy established that the cause of death was a gunshot wound to the head. The Institute of Forensic Medicine in Priština/Prishtinë issued the death and identification certificate in early December 2024.
Selman was buried on 21 December 2024 in Orahovac/Rahovec.
Ismail (Hazir and Nazife) Parduzi and Ilmi (Fazli and Xhylë) Aliu
They were last seen on 14 April 1999, when officers of the Mitrovica Secretariat of Internal Affairs (SUP) took them from Fahredin Berisha’s house in the southern part of Mitrovica/Mitrovicë for an “informational interview”.
Their remains were exhumed in 2023 from the cemetery in Vidomirić/Vidimiriq. The Institute of Forensic Medicine in Priština/Prishtinë issued the death and identification certificates for the remains in early October 2024.
Ismail was buried on 26 October 2024 in Vesekovce/Vesekofc, and Ilmi on 20 December 2024 in Strovce/Strofc, municipality of Vučitrn/Vushtrri.
Ramadan (Jonuz and Hilmije) Hoxha, Xhavit (Zymer and Miradije) Maloku, Xheladin (Jetish and Hajrije) Kabashi, Agim (Hysen and Elheme) Syla and Besim (Bajram and Fahrije) Berisha
Members of the Yugoslav Army (VJ) executed Ramadan, Xhavit, Xheladin, Agim and Besim, together with at least 30 other Albanians, on 30 March 1999 beside a concrete wall on the road from Poljance/Polac towards Srbica/Skenderaj.
The remains of Ramadan, Xhavit, Agim and Xheladin were exhumed in 2023 from the cemetery near the former ammunition factory in Prekaz. The available information indicates that the autopsy established the cause of Xhavit’s death as a gunshot wound to the pelvic region and the cause of Besim’s death as a gunshot wound to the head, while the cause of Agim’s death was not established. The Institute of Forensic Medicine in Priština/Prishtinë issued the death and identification certificates for the remains of Ramadan, Xhavit, Agim and Besim in late September 2024, and for Xheladin in early January 2025.
Ramadan was buried on 1 October 2024 in Domonek/Domanek. Xhavit was buried the same day in Poluže/Poluzhë, and Agim and Besim in Štutice/Shtuticë. Xheladin was buried on 19 January 2025 in the fallen fighters’ cemetery in Poljance/Polac.
Adem (Hazir and Xhevë) Gashi, Osman (Kadri and Nefise) Fejza, Sheremet (Brahim and Zoje) Ismajli, Bekim (Hashim and Aze) Hasani, Bekim (Muharrem and Zyhra) Gashi, Mentor (Xhemail and Shukrije) Myrtaj, Vehbi (Pajazit and Fetije) Halilaj, Mentor (Maliq and Ganimete) Kryeziu, Sahit (Ahmet and Xhemile) Gashi, Sabedin (Kadri and Nafije) Kryeziu and Shkëlzen (Rifat and Dinore) Hajdaraj
They were last seen on 2 April 1999 in Kraljan/Kralan, among a group of 95 young men detained by members of the Yugoslav Army while their families were forced to leave for Albania. After the war, in September 2001, the remains of 19 men were discovered in a mass grave beside Lake Perućac in Serbia, while the remains of 16 men were found in cemeteries in Đakovica/Gjakovë and Kraljan/Kralan. Their remains were exhumed on 19 October 2023 in Bistražin/Bistrazhin. The autopsy did not establish a specific cause of death. The Institute of Forensic Medicine in Priština/Prishtinë issued the death and identification certificates for the remains on 14 February 2025.
Adem Gashi, Osman Fejza, Sheremet Ismajli, Bekim Hasani, Sahit Gashi, Bekim Gashi and Shkëlzen Hajdaraj were buried on 4 April 2025 in the Crveni breg/Kodra e Kuqe war victims’ cemetery in Grabanica/Grabanicë. Mentor Myrtaj was buried the same day in Jošanica/Jashanicë, Mentor Kryeziu in Bobovac/Bubavec, and Vehbi Halilaj in Lapčevo/Llapqevë. Sabedin Kryeziu was buried on 21 March 2025 in Mlečan/Mleqan.
Elhami (Qamili and Habibe) Tahiraga
Elhami was killed on 18 July 1998 near the petrol station at the entrance to Orahovac/Rahovec. His body remained in the car at which members of Serbian forces had fired. The remains were exhumed on 9 September 2003 in Orahovac/Rahovec. The autopsy did not establish a specific cause of death. The Institute of Forensic Medicine in Priština/Prishtinë issued the death and identification certificate on 18 February 2025.
He was buried on 25 April 2025 in Orahovac/Rahovec.
Xhemali (Bajram and Sabrije) Kabashi
The remains were exhumed on two separate occasions, on 27 July 2000 and 29 October 2024, from the cemetery in Sopine/Sopijë, municipality of Suva Reka/Suharekë. The autopsy established that the cause of death was a gunshot wound to the abdomen. The Institute of Forensic Medicine in Priština/Prishtinë issued the death and identification certificate on 3 November 2025.
He was buried on 16 November 2025 in the cemetery in Sopine/Sopijë.
Rasim (Mehmet and Rukije) Koci
Rasim was last seen by his relative Hysen Shoshi on 3 April 1999 in Skivjane/Skivjan, when Rasim stopped at his house on the way to Ramoc. He was soaked from the rain. He stayed for four hours, until his clothes had dried. Hysen gave him a bicycle and Rasim set off towards Ramoc, but never arrived. His remains were exhumed on 17 October 2003 near the Drim/Drin River in Mala Kruša/Krushë e Vogël, municipality of Prizren. The autopsy did not establish the cause of death. The Institute of Forensic Medicine in Priština/Prishtinë issued the death and identification certificate on 22 January 2026.
He was buried on 31 January 2026 in the war victims’ cemetery in the Čabrat/Çabrat neighbourhood of Đakovica/Gjakovë.
Agron (Sdari and Zejnepe) Gjocaj
Agron was last seen on 16 August 1998, when he entered a minefield on Mount Bogićevica/Bogiçevica as part of a group of KLA members. His remains were exhumed on 28 June 2025 in the cemetery in Đakovica/Gjakovë. The cause of death was not established. The Institute of Forensic Medicine in Priština/Prishtinë issued the death and identification certificate on 4 February 2026.
He was buried on 21 February 2026 in the Memorial Complex for Fallen Fighters in Babaloć/Baballoq, municipality of Dečane/Deçan.
Masar (Ymer and Zojë) Dushi, Bali (Pajazit and Sofije) Gashi and Fadil (Shaban and Hamide) Elezaj
They were last seen on 4 April 1999 in Kraljan/Kralan, among a group of 95 young Albanian civilians detained by Serbian forces while their families were sent towards Albania. Their remains were exhumed on 19 October 2023 in Bistražin/Bistrazhin. The cause of death was not established. The Institute of Forensic Medicine in Priština/Prishtinë issued the death and identification certificates for the remains on 4 February 2026.
They were buried on 27 February 2026 in the Crveni breg/Kodra e Kuqe fallen fighters’ cemetery in Grabanica/Grabanicë.
Myrteza (Skender and Dudije) Dylhasi
At around noon on 27 March 1999, Myrteza, his father Skender, Manduha Jetishi and her two sons, Fatos and Shpend, were in the home of their neighbour Halim Qerkezi in Đakovica/Gjakovë when three masked police officers arrived. They took Halim and his four sons from the house, along with their relatives Vegim and Shpetim, Skender and Myrteza, and Manduha’s sons Fatos and Shpend.
Myrteza’s remains were exhumed in Đonaj/Gjonaj, near the Drim/Drin River. The remains of Myrteza’s father Skender, Halim and his sons Armend and Ardian, as well as Shpetim and Shpend, have still not been identified.
Myrteza was buried on 6 March 2026 in the cemetery of the Čabrat/Çabrat Memorial Complex in Đakovica/Gjakovë.
Sinan (Fadil and Lumnie) Dauti
Nine-year-old Sinan was seriously wounded when Serbian forces shelled Gornje Prekaze/Prekaz i Epërm, municipality of Srbica/Skenderaj, on 12 April 1999. He died of his injuries in the hospital in Kosovska Mitrovica/Mitrovicë. His remains were exhumed on 27 November 2024 from the cemetery in Suvi Do/Suhodoll, municipality of Mitrovica/Mitrovicë.
The Institute of Forensic Medicine in Priština/Prishtinë issued the death and identification certificate for the remains on 14 April 2026. He was buried on 18 April 2026 in the cemetery in Gornje Prekaze/Prekaz i Epërm.
Hajdar (Sali and Ajshe) Pepaj
Hajdar was killed on 22 May 1999 in Dubrava Prison near Istok, when members of a Special Police unit of the Serbian Ministry of the Interior killed more than 60 Albanian prisoners. At the prisoners’ cemetery, Hajdar’s wife recognised his clothes among the displayed clothing of prisoners who had been buried, but his body was not in the grave bearing the same number as the clothes.
Hajdar’s remains were exhumed on 11 July 2025 in Pustenik/Pusat e Nikës, municipality of Đeneral Janković/Hani i Elezit. The autopsy established that the cause of death was a firearm injury to the shoulder. The Institute of Forensic Medicine in Priština/Prishtinë issued the death and identification certificate on 20 June 2026.
He was buried on 21 June 2026 in the cemetery in Kodralije/Kodrali.
Exhumations in the Municipality of Zubin Potok
In August 2026, the remains of at least 23 persons were exhumed in the villages of Kaludra/Kalludër and Jabuka/Jabukë. There are strong indications that the remains belong to Albanian civilians who left Kosovska Mitrovica/Mitrovicë on 19 April 1999, seeking refuge in Montenegro. It took more than two decades to verify the information about this grave, even though the Serbian Ministry of the Interior, UNMIK and the Kosovo Police possessed information about the crime and the possible burial site. (Sources: Kosovo Government Commission on Missing Persons, 24 August 2026; HLC Archives.)
Conclusion
This year’s observance of the International Day of the Disappeared again showed that missing persons in the countries of the former Yugoslavia continue to be divided along national lines. Politicians and representatives of family associations speak of every family’s right to the truth, yet in practice they address only “their own” victims and assign responsibility for the impasse solely to the other side.
In Serbia, the International Day of the Disappeared was displaced by the public glorification of Ratko Mladić, convicted by a final judgment of genocide and other war crimes. This is not merely a falsification of the past, but the dehumanisation of the victims of crimes in Bosnia and Herzegovina: their names and fates, and the suffering of their families, were removed from the public sphere so that its centre could be occupied by a man convicted of genocide, murder, persecution and terrorising civilians, who evaded justice for 16 years.
The Serbia–Kosovo Joint Commission has produced no operational results: no joint field verification has been carried out, reciprocal access to archives and locations has not been established, and Serbia has not begun the renewed search of previously exhumed mass graves requested by the Kosovo commission. A commission that does not lead to the exchange of information and the recovery of remains does not constitute cooperation; it merely simulates it.
The right to the truth has no nationality. When the state publicly celebrates a man convicted of genocide and institutions guard archives and information as national possessions, the missing are denied visibility, victims are denied human dignity, and their families are denied answers.
Nataša Kandić
RECOM Reconciliation Network, HLC and HLC Kosovo
