The Center for Peace, the Anti-Fascist League, and Documenta have asked the Ministry of the Interior, the State Attorney's Office, and the Ombudswoman to urgently prosecute participants in the parade who used Ustasha symbols and incited violence.
The Center for Peace, Nonviolence and Human Rights Osijek, the Anti-Fascist League of the Republic of Croatia, and Documenta, Center for Dealing with the Past filed a criminal complaint on August 7, 2026, against participants in the commemoration of the 31st anniversary of Operation Storm in Knin. Addressing the Ministry of the Interior (MUP), the State Attorney's Office of the Republic of Croatia (DORH), and the Ombudswoman, the organizations suspect public incitement to violence and hatred, as well as the use of symbols and greetings that violate the Constitution.
The complaint is based on footage from August 5, 2026, in Knin, published in the media and on social networks. According to the press release, the footage shows that during the parade through the city streets, some participants, including members of Torcida and certain veterans, shouted messages against the Serbian national minority and used symbols unequivocally associated with the Ustasha regime of the Independent State of Croatia.
The complainants highlighted several contentious chants: "We Croats don't drink wine, only the blood of Chetniks from Knin" and "The battle is fought, it is fought, the Ustasha flag waves." Additionally, they pointed to the raising of the right hand, which they claim, according to generally accepted social meaning and judicial practice, constitutes the Ustasha salute and glorification of fascist ideology. The document also includes Marko Skeja's performance of the song "Jure and Bobana," which is noted to be recognized in public discourse and in courts as glorifying the Ustasha movement and its members.
Representatives of the organizations, Executive Director of the Center for Peace Natalija Havelka, Head of Documenta Vesna Teršelič, and President of the Anti-Fascist League Zoran Pusić, stated in the press release: "From publicly available video recordings published in electronic media and on social networks, it is evident that during the parade through the streets of Knin, some participants, including members of the fan group Torcida and certain veterans, publicly shouted messages directed against members of the Serbian national minority and used symbols and greetings unequivocally associated with the Ustasha regime of the Independent State of Croatia."
The organizations warned that such calls to violence are dangerous for society and the state, recalling that the Constitution, in its foundational principles, rejects the legacy of the NDH as a fascist regime and affirms anti-fascism as one of the fundamental values. They also sharply criticized the lack of clear and unequivocal condemnation by some state officials. "A government that does not oppose such gatherings threatens the constitutional order of the Republic of Croatia," they emphasized.
They demand that the MUP, DORH, and the Ombudswoman identify all those who shouted hate messages and used prohibited fascist symbols, investigate whether there are elements of criminal offenses or misdemeanors prosecuted ex officio, and take legal measures. The complaint also cites the practice of the European Court of Human Rights and decisions of the Constitutional Court, according to which the use of Ustasha symbols and greetings is not protected by freedom of expression when it glorifies a totalitarian regime or incites hatred.
They particularly expressed concern about the large number of young people who, along with older individuals, shouted the contentious messages and used the Ustasha salute, which they assess as a normalization of hate speech, historical revisionism, and glorification of totalitarian ideologies. "We believe that an effective response from the competent authorities is necessary to protect the constitutional order of the Republic of Croatia, the equality of all citizens before the law, and the preservation of the values of a democratic society based on respect for human rights and the dignity of every person," they stated in the press release.
The events in Knin also resonated among politicians. SDSS President Milorad Pupovac publicly condemned the Ustasha chants and salutes, assessing Marko Skeja's performance as contrary to the Constitution and the fundamental values of the state. On the other hand, Minister of Croatian Veterans Tomo Medved stated that he did not follow events outside the official program and could not comment on them due to his obligations.
