Bar Prosecutor investigates concert over war-related symbolism

The Basic State Prosecutor's Office in Bar, Montenegro, has launched an official investigation following a concert by the Serbian choir ‘Fenečki biseri’. The investigation aims to determine if the performance of certain songs containing nationalistic and war-related symbolism constitutes a criminal offense, specifically the glorification of war criminals.

The concert was held at the Bar Cultural Center to mark the tenth anniversary of the consecration of the Cathedral of Saint John Vladimir. Public outcry was triggered by the performance of the song ‘Đenerale, đenerale’. While the song was originally dedicated to Veljko Radenović, a former Serbian police commander in Prizren, its lyrics have frequently been used in public tributes to Ratko Mladić, a convicted war criminal.

Another song performed, ‘O junačka svijetla zoro, majko naša Crna Goro’, drew criticism for describing Montenegro as a land that preserved freedom for the ‘Serbian race’. Local officials and civil sectors have expressed concern that such performances threaten the multi-ethnic harmony of Bar, while political figures have debated whether the prosecution's reaction reflects a double standard regarding national symbols.