In the months leading up to the concert by Marko Perković Thompson, which was held on July 5, 2025 at the Zagreb Hippodrome, the protection of the safety and health of the concertgoers and all other citizens was, understandably so, at the center of the public’s focus.

A day later, it is evident that the quality of the organization ensured the smooth running of the event without major negative consequences, which is commendable. Likewise, the majority of the concertgoers behaved responsibly, thus helping to maintain the safety and health, their own and that of others, at such a large event.

On the other hand, the behavior of some citizens before and on the day of the concert itself and the message that it transmitted needs to be discussed as well. This especially applies to the recording of a crowd singing an unquestionably Ustasha song in Bogovićeva Street in Zagreb the day before the concert, in broad daylight, as well as the echoing of the Ustasha salute “Za dom spremni” by a large number of people, as if it were something acceptable and legal. This clearly indicates that over the years, and even before this concert, it has not been clarified what exactly constitutes unacceptable and illegal expressions of hatred and glorification of the darkest periods of the past.

In addition to praise for the organization of this mass event, which undoubtedly went better than many had predicted, the day following the concert was clearly marked by a lack of public condemnation of such behavior by high-ranking officials and competent bodies that participated in the organization as well as the organizers themselves, who witnessed such behaviors and yet failed to distance themselves from their association with the Ustasha regime. That regime is not and cannot be a part of our present or future, because it was based on hatred and mass murders and treated people of other nationalities, religions and political beliefs as beings of lower value. That hatred and organized murders are not and cannot be expressions of patriotism, unity and the values ​​that bind us together and should be clearly condemned.

Instead, the lack of public condemnation sends a message that association with the Ustasha is acceptable in today’s Croatia, and this impression has, unfortunately, been strengthened by years of ignoring the problem, the lack of political determination to solve it and the abundance of ambiguous messages to citizens by high-ranking officials.

A society that does not show a clear attitude towards its history is also raising new generations in this way. Young people have also been using symbols related to the Ustasha these days, which shows that they do not know enough about that shameful period in Croatian history. The state has failed in its obligation to separate the Republic of Croatia, patriotism and the values ​​that connect us through the education system from what is on the opposite side of humanity, of the Constitution of the Republic of Croatia, which clearly separates the present-day Republic of Croatia from the NDH.

Therefore, Ombudswoman Tena Šimonović Einwalter calls on all authorities to take all steps within their authority and mandates for the benefit of the entire country and all new and future generations so that a modern, independent Croatia in the 21st century could look itself in the mirror and say a resolute “no” to all behaviors that associate it with this undemocratic and inhumane regime, exactly as was envisioned by the first Constitution of the Republic of Croatia.

In this sense, the message of the Police Directorate on the eve of the concert that they are recording all potentially unacceptable behaviors and that they will analyze the recordings and file misdemeanor charges is especially important. It is extremely important that this be done in a short time period and that the public is informed about the consequences of any and all illegal behaviors.

It is the duty of everyone occupying the positions of power to be able to say clearly and unequivocally “no” to hatred. Croatia can be loved in different ways, but glorifying the Ustasha regime and associating with it is not one of them.