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2 clusters · 31 sources · 3 days · First seen 23 days ago · Last updated 20 days ago

Balkan nationalist hate speech incidents

Overview

In early August 2026, nationalist hate speech resurfaced in two Balkan contexts. On 4 August, Croatian midfielder Fran Tomek reported that supporters of his Slovenian club NK Koper shouted Ustaša slurs, insulted his family and threatened him, prompting club president Anto Guberac to condemn the language and call for fan support despite recent defeats.

Three days later, on 7 August, Independent Democratic Serb Party leader Milorad Pupovac held a press conference after the 31st anniversary of Operation Oluja in Knin, Croatia. Video recordings captured chants praising the Ustaša regime, anti‑Serb slogans and extremist symbols. Pupovac described the episode as a serious attack on constitutional values and urged police, courts and the State Attorney’s Office to act. Civil organisations—including the Center for Peace, the Antifascist League and Documenta—filed formal complaints alleging incitement of violence and constitutional violations. A veterans’ association defended the celebration as peaceful, while the State Attorney’s Office noted that no criminal complaints had been lodged. The incidents highlight a pattern of resurfacing nationalist hate speech, spanning a football stadium in Slovenia to a political commemoration in Croatia, and raise questions about legal enforcement and the limits of free speech in the region.

Entities

State Attorney's Office of Croatia (DORH) · Operation Oluja · Milorad Pupovac · Tomo Medved · Fran Tomek

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 3 SOURCES] Milorad Pupovac, president of the SDSS and a Croatian MP, held an extraordinary press conference at the Serbian National Council in Zagreb on 7 August 2026.
[● 3 SOURCES] The conference addressed recordings of chants and messages heard on 5 August 2026 in Knin during the Operation Storm anniversary celebrations.
[● 3 SOURCES] Pupovac described the messages as anti‑constitutional, hate speech and an attack on democracy, the Constitution of Croatia, veterans and citizens.
[● 3 SOURCES] He criticised the police, the State Attorney’s Office (DORH) and the courts for insufficient response to the incidents.
[● 3 SOURCES] Pupovac warned that such hate speech should be treated as a matter of national importance.
[● 3 SOURCES] He condemned the glorification of the NDH as not patriotism.
[● 3 SOURCES] The recordings showed a column of supporters and veterans marching in Knin and a performance by Marko Skejo in a restaurant.

Timeline

20 days ago

[POLITICS] 28 sources
Milorad Pupovac condemns hate speech in Knin, calls for legal action
On 5 Aug, extremist chants were recorded in Knin during the Operation Oluja anniversary. MP Milorad Pupovac called it an attack on constitutional values, urging police and courts to act. Civil groups filed a投诉,
23 days ago

[SPORTS] 4 sources
Croatian midfielder Fran Tomek hit with nationalist slurs by Koper fans
Croatian midfielder Fran Tomek said Koper fans called him a Ustaša and threatened his family; club president Anto Guberac condemned the hate speech and urged support.

Sources

24sata.hr · 6yka.com · beta.rs · dalmacijadanas.hr · dnevno.hr · glas-slavonije.hr · index.hr · javniservis.net · jutarnji.hr · m.tportal.hr · maxportal.hr · n1info.hr · narod.hr · nova.rs · novilist.hr · oslobodjenje.ba · patagonia.com.au · planetnogomet.si · portalanalitika.me · prigorski.hr · sarajevo-x.com · snportal.si · sport1.ba · tportal.hr · tris.com.hr · vecernji.hr · veritas.org.rs · vesti-online.com · vijesti.ba · vijesti.hrt.hr · zadarskilist.hr

This summary has been updated 1 time: see revision history