# Balkan nationalist hate speech incidents

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/balkan-nationalist-hate-speech-incidents
> Updated: 2026-08-07T00:00:00.000Z. Sources: 31. Developments: 2.

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.

## Claims

- 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. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The conference addressed recordings of chants and messages heard on 5 August 2026 in Knin during the Operation Storm anniversary celebrations. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Pupovac described the messages as anti‑constitutional, hate speech and an attack on democracy, the Constitution of Croatia, veterans and citizens. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- He criticised the police, the State Attorney’s Office (DORH) and the courts for insufficient response to the incidents. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Pupovac warned that such hate speech should be treated as a matter of national importance. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- He condemned the glorification of the NDH as not patriotism. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The recordings showed a column of supporters and veterans marching in Knin and a performance by Marko Skejo in a restaurant. (corroborated by 3 sources)

## Timeline

### 2026-08-07: 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,

28 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/milorad-pupovac-condemns-hate-speech-in-knin-after-storm-anniversary

### 2026-08-04: 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.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/croatian-midfielder-fran-tomek-hit-with-nationalist-slurs-by-koper-fans

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Cite as: Balkan nationalist hate speech incidents. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/balkan-nationalist-hate-speech-incidents