A United Nations court has denied an early release request for Ratko Mladić, the former Bosnian Serb general serving a life sentence for war crimes and genocide.

Mladić, now 84 years old, had sought early release from his imprisonment at a UN detention facility in The Hague. The former military commander was convicted for his role in atrocities committed during the 1992-1996 Bosnian War, including the 1995 Srebrenica massacre.

In rejecting the request, a UN judge acknowledged that Mladić is "in the final stages of his life" due to his advanced age. However, the court determined that current prison conditions at the facility in The Hague provide for his maximum comfort and adequate care.

Mladić was sentenced to life imprisonment by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia for genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes. His conviction was upheld on appeal in 2021, finalizing his life sentence.

The decision comes as Mladić continues to serve his sentence at the UN Detention Unit in The Hague, where he has been held since his transfer following conviction.