Fascism echoes through Croatia: War veterans interrupt festival in Benkovac with shouts of 'Za dom spremni'

(Patria) - Croatian war veterans interrupted the 'Nosi se' festival in Benkovac with Ustasha shouts of 'Za dom spremni' and verbal threats to organizer Melita Vrsaljko, and the event is under police investigation.

According to Vrsaljko, about 20 veterans verbally abused and intimidated her with messages 'that she should be thrown under a car', Croatian Index reports today, adding the organizer's claims that the police did not react in time but 'just watched in silence'.

Vrsaljko also told local media that members of the Torcida fan group from Zadar joined the veterans and that a group of about a hundred men shouted Ustasha chants.

Croatian police confirmed they are investigating the incident and that, in order to check whether the conduct of police officers was in line with professional standards, an expert team has been sent to the Zadar police administration.

Croatian Minister of Culture and Media, Nina Obuljen Koržinek, assessed that any form of violence and threats is 'unacceptable' and that she strongly condemns the incident.

'I read with regret and concern the media reports about last night's event in Benkovac. Any form of violence or threat is unacceptable and I strongly condemn any such behavior,' Obuljen Koržinek stated.

Croatian opposition parties strongly condemned the violent interruption of the festival in Benkovac, Croatian media report.

The Social Democratic Party of Croatia (SDP) states that in recent months there has been a radicalization of the discourse on war in Croatia, which the state leadership supports and legitimizes attacks on those who promote peace, solidarity, unity and non-violence in Croatia.

'The atmosphere of division and violence has even spilled over into the Croatian Parliament, where we witnessed the utterance of the Ustasha salute without sanctions, which has spilled over into the public space, including Benkovac. If the state leadership continues to remain silent, there will be more of this,' the SDP states.

The 'We Can!' party emphasizes that the event in Benkovac is another consequence of 'Plenković letting the Ustasha spirit out of the bottle'.

'We warn that the persistent promotion of Ustasha symbols of hatred that we see in Croatia is increasingly spilling over into bans, witch hunts and physical violence on the streets. It is shameful that the police turn a blind eye instead of ensuring that the show goes on,' the party's statement reads.

The 'Nosi se' festival deals with themes of deconstructing war and violence and promoting non-violence, solidarity and pluralism.