Zdravko Čolić recalls 1980s arrest in Macedonia

Singer Zdravko Čolić has shared details regarding his arrest in Ohrid, Macedonia, during the mid-1980s. The incident occurred while he was attempting to engage in small-scale business activities, specifically converting credit funds into foreign currency, which was cheaper in Macedonia than in Belgrade or Zagreb at the time.

Čolić noted that he was being monitored by authorities because his presence in the region during the off-season was considered suspicious. He described the experience as uncomfortable, stating that investigators followed his movements until they intercepted him. He emphasized that the funds involved were legitimate and not illicit money.

The legal process involved several days of questioning, which he described as a form of detention with tolerance, where he was allowed to sleep in a hotel between long interrogation sessions. He eventually appeared before an investigative judge and was released to defend himself. The trial drew significant public interest, with crowds gathering to hear his defense.