Croatian local officials clash over WWII memory controversies

Mayor Dario Zurovec of Sveta Nedelja announced a full restoration of the Kerestinec Castle, asserting that the building was never used as an Ustaše camp or a site of wartime atrocities. He disputed historical accounts that mention killings of communists there, describing the claims as “myths” and urging a revision of the monument’s narrative.

In Rijeka, mayor Iva Rinčić faced criticism after a graffiti reading “Za dom spremni” was repeatedly painted and then allowed to remain on a street wall following a performance. Critics accused her of equating fascist symbols with anti‑fascist values and of weakening the city’s historical stance against Ustaše propaganda. Both incidents highlight a growing political dispute in Croatia over how World‑War‑II heritage sites and symbols are presented and remembered.