Actor fined for walking naked in Sarajevo center, organizer faces misdemeanor charges

SARAJevo, (Patria) - Police officers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Sarajevo Canton intervened following a call from citizens, and the public event in front of the Sarajevo National Theatre was interrupted because it was not announced in accordance with the Law on Public Assembly in Sarajevo Canton, according to today's reaction from the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Sarajevo Canton to last night's performance "Together" which disturbed the public in the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

"Misdemeanor proceedings will be initiated against the legal and responsible person who organized it by submitting a Request for Initiation of Misdemeanor Proceedings to the competent Court for violating the provisions of the aforementioned law. The participant of the mentioned event, M. M., a citizen of Slovenia, after consultations with the duty judge for misdemeanors, was issued a misdemeanor order for committing a misdemeanor under Article 8, Paragraph 2, Point e) of the Law on Misdemeanors Against Public Order and Peace of Sarajevo Canton, and he paid a fine, in accordance with the legal provisions," the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Sarajevo Canton stated.

We remind you that yesterday afternoon, Sarajevo citizens were surprised and disgusted when they saw almost completely naked people on the square in front of the National Theatre. However, the situation culminated when actor Marko Mandić moved away from the performance area and walked down the street completely naked. This caused a wave of reactions on social networks, and cantonal representative Haris Zahiragić went a step further, calling the police who then interrupted the unannounced and unauthorized performance.

Although she claimed last night that it was art and that she had permits, the artistic director of the International Art Festival "Zvrk", Jasmina Prolić, sent a press release this morning apologizing to the citizens of Sarajevo and stating that the content of the performance was not appropriate for a public square.

"As the artistic director of the International Art Festival 'Zvrk', and on behalf of the entire organization of the association of the same name, I want to publicly and deeply apologize to all citizens of Sarajevo for the disturbance and confusion that the multi-award-winning performance 'Together' by renowned Slovenian artists could have caused in their lives with yesterday's performance on Susan Sontag Square in front of the National Theatre. Knowing that this performance is performed on the streets of Slovenia and other European countries, and based on the reputation of the actors, I invited this performance to Sarajevo without being aware of its content. I recognize my mistake and agree that it was not appropriate content for a public square," Prolić said.

The realization of this performance in Sarajevo was made possible thanks to the European Union fund, Prolić added.

It should also be added that the Sarajevo police, although present near the square, did not react at the moments when Mandić walked naked down the street, and the reaction only came after citizens called.