Svetlana Spajić convicted in Croatia over song and residency

Serbian singer Svetlana Spajić has been convicted by the Municipal Court in Zadar, Croatia, for violating public order and failing to report her stay. The court issued a five-day suspended prison sentence and a 50 euro fine.

The charges stem from a video Spajić posted on social media in March 2024, featuring a performance of the traditional song ‘Oj Krajino, moja mila mati’. The court ruled that the mention of ‘Krajina’ carries disturbing connotations in modern Croatia and that the video insulted the dignity of citizens, particularly those affected by war.

Spajić, who was detained following a performance at the Žegarske Meetings near Obrovac, initially denied the charges, stating the song was part of 19th and 20th-century oral tradition. However, she later changed her testimony and pleaded guilty, stating, ‘I should have informed myself better about what the word Krajina means to the Croatian people.’ She apologized to the Croatian people for any offense caused.