The decision to use the Memorial Park of the Executed on Šubićevac for visitor reception sparked strong reactions, and conservators determined that the works were carried out without the necessary approval.
The decision by the City of Šibenik to allow Infiniti show d.o.o., the organizer of Marko Perković Thompson's concert, to use the Memorial Park of the Executed on Šubićevac has sparked sharp reactions from conservators, anti-fascist associations, and the opposition. According to the decision of July 27, 2026, the City leased the protected cultural property as a public area of 11,827 square meters at a price of 0.3 euros per square meter, or 30 cents, for which the organizer paid a total of 3,548.10 euros. The contract obliges Infiniti show to repair any potential damage and take all protective measures to prevent damage to this cultural property.
The space was provided solely for forming entry and exit corridors and receiving visitors in the protected zone, but on-site interventions have disturbed the public. On Sunday, the Museum of Victory Šibenik posted on social media that an entrance to the cultural monument had been breached and sales stalls set up, calling it a disgrace for the city.
"Is this a disgrace for a proud City of Šibenik? Breaching an entrance to a cultural property of the Republic of Croatia and a cultural monument, and setting up stalls to sell 'something'? Is it possible that this happens anywhere?"
The police went to the site to file a report, and the Museum announced meetings with authorities to prevent further damage to the memorial park.
The Regional Conservation Office in Šibenik confirmed that the City's approval was issued without prior permission from the Ministry of Culture and Media. The Community of Anti-Fascist Fighter and Anti-Fascist Associations of Šibenik-Knin County (ZUABA) has requested urgent conservation supervision and a halt to the interventions, with similar requests sent to the Ministry of Culture and Media, the City of Šibenik, and the State Inspectorate.
Independent conservator Tomislav Poljanec stated that after a tip-off, they conducted an on-site inspection this morning. He reminded that on July 29, 2026, they had already sent a letter to the City of Šibenik regarding the placement of portable toilets in the memorial complex, which were promptly removed.
"Upon learning of yesterday's events, we conducted an inspection this morning and found that tent canopies and access ramps had been set up in the memorial complex without prior approval from our office. Given this, we have sent a letter to the City of Šibenik as the owner of the cultural property, urging them to act in accordance with the Law on the Protection and Preservation of Cultural Goods and the established protection measures. We will also report this to the inspection service at the Ministry of Culture and Media."
Service head Angela Bujas detailed the findings in a letter to ZUABA. The inspection on August 3, 2026, revealed that several tent canopies and a series of ramps had been placed in the memorial complex, leading over a removed fence to the adjacent stadium. Bujas emphasized that the Park of the Executed is protected by a decision of the Ministry of Culture from April 28, 2005, and is listed in the Register of Cultural Goods under number Z-2019. Due to the City's lack of response to the earlier letter, conservators have requested the urgent removal of all newly installed structures immediately upon receipt of the letter.
President of the Šibenik SDP, Petar Baranović, stated that his party is monitoring the situation and has twice asked the City to respect the law. "There is no word from the mayor, because this provocation is primarily his doing, his and his party's," Baranović said.
Controversies also surround the announced Thompson concert in Vukovar. The Vukovar city branch of the SDP has called on citizens to boycott the concert, scheduled for August 28, 2026, accusing the singer of an "aggressive and fascistoid campaign." In a statement, they claimed the concert serves to boost the ratings of right-wing parties and to mask the city's real problems.
"The singer and that entire right-wing, and in our view fascistoid, campaign are using the city in a usurious and profiteering manner to boost the ratings of right-wing parties at the national level and to conceal the real problems of the city of Vukovar."
The SDP also listed issues burdening Vukovar, including "a city full of usurious companies that pay their workers minimum wage, that employ foreign workers who work overtime under poor conditions," the abolition of free kindergartens, and increased public transport prices, concluding that "the irresponsible city government uses it to conceal the real problems of citizens, and right-wing parties and some other societal structures use it to return Croatia to a dark past."
