Milanović and Croatian PM exchange insults over Plenković's photo with Djokovic

(Patria) - The bickering between the two leading figures in Croatia continues. Following the public release of a photo of Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković with French President Emmanuel Macron and Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic at the Rugby World Cup final held at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, reactions followed.

Croatian President Zoran Milanović commented on the photos today.

"We are waiting for the great de-dramatizer to explain what they actually did. Plenković took a photo with Novak Djokovic. That is, by the way, that Russophile. A brilliant athlete, whom I generally root for, but a Russophile. At the same time, he is settling scores with members of parliament who voted against dragging Croatia into war and training soldiers for the war in Ukraine - because they are looking out for Croatia's interests - but he has no problem posing for photos with people who are openly on Moscow's side," said Milanović.

Plenković did not wait long to respond.

"As my obligations in Brussels ended on Friday, I decided to spend the weekend with my family, and he (Macron, our note) told me to watch the match together. At one point, Djokovic appeared, I didn't even know he would be there, we took a photo... But the last person who can criticize me is Milanović, who puts us in a position where we have to explain Croatia's positions, which is support for Ukraine, which has been our stance all along. If anyone is a Russophile, it is him. I also heard that he used the word 'fool', to which I can say that his statements over the past year have been idiotic and a disgrace to Croatia," stated Plenković.