The Branitelji zajedno community condemned statements by SDSS president Milorad Pupovac and gave full support to Minister Tomo Medved, stressing that individual chants from the celebration cannot be used for accusations of extremism.
The umbrella organization of veterans' associations of war units of Međimurje County, Branitelji zajedno, issued a statement on Friday expressing strong support for Minister of Croatian Veterans Tomo Medved and sharply condemning statements by Milorad Pupovac, president of the SDSS, regarding the commemoration of the 31st anniversary of the military-police operation Storm.
The community emphasized that this year's celebration in Knin passed peacefully and with dignity, without a single violent incident, and that isolated chants heard outside the official protocol must not be used as evidence for accusations of "extremism."
"The celebration in Knin passed peacefully, with dignity, and without any forms of violence, threats to security, or breaches of public order. Individual chants outside the official protocol cannot be used as an argument for accusations of 'extremism,' nor can they call into question the magnificent character of Operation Storm," the statement from Branitelji zajedno reads.
The same day, Pupovac stated that messages heard at the commemoration in Knin represented "a serious attack on constitutional values and democracy," presenting recordings that included chants such as "We Croats don't drink wine, only the blood of Chetniks from Knin" and the Ustasha salute "Za dom spremni." He requested that the State Attorney's Office of the Republic of Croatia (DORH) act ex officio regarding hate speech and incitement to violence.
The veterans' association from Međimurje rejected such characterizations, assessing that in recent days there have been unfounded attempts to impose a narrative of "extremism" and "hate speech" on Minister Medved. They consider these claims false and politically motivated.
"Branitelji zajedno therefore condemns the lecturing of Milorad Pupovac and those like him, who attempt to impose on veterans, the Croatian people, and institutions how Croatia may or may not commemorate Operation Storm," they stated in the release.
The community also rejected any attempt to link Operation Storm with historical periods that have nothing to do with the modern Croatian state, alluding to frequent comparisons with the NDH era.
"The NDH and Operation Storm belong to completely different historical contexts, time periods, and political circumstances. Storm is the foundation of Croatian statehood, internationally recognized and conducted in accordance with international law," the community stated.
It was highlighted that Minister Medved and the Ministry of Croatian Veterans have for many years worked to protect the dignity of the Homeland War and care for veterans, and his response to criticism was deemed balanced and responsible.
Minister Medved, responding to Pupovac's accusations on Friday, said he can only comment on the official part of the program for which he was responsible, from the morning reveille to the Mass and wreath-laying. As he stated, he neither noticed nor heard events that occurred outside the official part of the program, and therefore cannot comment on them.
