Croatian police charge nine over pro-Nazi salute

Fans of Croatian nationalist singer Marko Perkovic Thompson gather at the Zagreb hippodrome during a concert by the singer, who is known for his sympathies for the country's World War II Nazi-allied regime, to an expected crowd of some 450,000 people on July 5, 2025. (Damir Sencar/AFP)
Fans of Croatian nationalist singer Marko Perkovic Thompson gather at the Zagreb hippodrome during a concert by the singer, who is known for his sympathies for the country's World War II Nazi-allied regime, to an expected crowd of some 450,000 people on July 5, 2025. (Damir Sencar/AFP)

Croatian police charge nine people after a masked group performed fascist salutes in a confrontation with a march against the far right over the weekend.

The accused individuals allegedly performed the salute of the Ustasha, Croatia’s Nazi-backed government during World War II, in what is the latest of several public displays of support for a regime that persecuted and killed hundreds of thousands of people.

On Sunday, thousands of anti-fascist protesters rallied in four cities against the rise in far-right incidents, including the disruption of a Serb community event by masked men in early November.

In Rijeka, on the northern Adriatic coast, around 30 people wearing masks were filmed performing the Ustasha salute in a confrontation with the anti-fascist demonstration. Fireworks were also heard exploding in the crowd.

Protest organizers said two people were injured by a flare and a firework during the incident.

Police told AFP they had charged nine people with public order offenses over the confrontation, including for shouting the Ustasha salute while raising their right arms.

After being questioned at a municipal court, all nine were released.

If found guilty, they face up to 30 days in jail and fines of up to 4,000 euros ($4,670).

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