Nakon dolaska na vlast reformističke vlade pod vodstvom preminulog premijera Zorana Đinđića nakon rušenja Miloševićevog režima u oktobru 2000, Mladić je prema izvještajima napustio Beograd, kako bi izbjegao moguće hapšenje i izručenje haškom tribunalu.
After a reformist government, led by late Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic, came to power following the overthrow of the Milosevic regime in October 2000, Mladic reportedly left Belgrade to avoid possible arrest and handover to The Hague-based tribunal.