# Political controversy over war crime associations in Balkans > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/political-controversy-over-war-crime-associations-in-balkans > Updated: 2026-09-25T11:37:22.000Z. Sources: 5. Developments: 2. Controversy has emerged regarding the use of cultural and historical symbols in Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina in connection with war crimes and extremist ideologies. In Montenegro, reports surfaced concerning the use of traditional national dress in photographs alongside imagery of Ratko Mladić, a convicted war criminal. This led to criticism regarding the misuse of Montenegro’s cultural heritage. Subsequently, the Alliance of Diaspora Associations in Germany (SCANJ) urged the European Union to address political developments in Montenegro, specifically citing the public use of Chetnik symbolism, historical revisionism, and provocative behavior within the Montenegrin Parliament. SCANJ questioned whether such conduct aligns with the democratic values required for Montenegro’s European integration. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Party of Democratic Action (SDA) faced scrutiny for including Senahid Godinjak on its candidate list for the House of Representatives. Godinjak faces indictment by the Prosecutor's Office for war crimes related to the 1995 shelling of an Orthodox church. ## Timeline ### 2026-09-25: SCANJ urges EU to address political incidents in Montenegro The Alliance of Diaspora Associations in Germany (SCANJ) has urged EU institutions to respond to the use of Chetnik symbolism and provocative political behavior within Montenegro's parliament. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/scanj-urges-eu-to-address-political-incidents-in-montenegro ### 2026-09-09: Montenegro and Bosnia face controversy over war crime associations Controversy surrounds the use of Montenegrin national dress alongside war criminal imagery and the candidacy of an indicted war crimes suspect in Bosnia and Herzegovina's elections. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/montenegro-and-bosnia-face-controversy-over-war-crime-associations --- Cite as: Political controversy over war crime associations in Balkans. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/political-controversy-over-war-crime-associations-in-balkans