Bosnia and Herzegovina: Protests planned in Mostar June 8

Event

A number of protests are expected to take place in Mostar on Thursday, June 8. “Children of War Mostar,” a civil society group, is planning to hold a rally at the Spanish Market starting at 20:00 (local time). The protest is taking place at the same time that a concert in support of Croat prisoners in the Hague will be held at the city stadium. Expect increased security measures and localized traffic disruptions at the stadium and the Spanish Market.

Context

Singer Mark Perkovic “Thompson” is holding the concert to support Croatians who were convicted of war crimes in the International Criminal Court at the Hague. Civil society groups have called for the government to ban his concert.

Thompson is nationalist who fought in Croatia’s 1991 war of independence from former Yugoslavia. He has been accused of glorifying the Nazi-backed state in Croatia during World War II in his songs. Several European countries, including the Netherlands, Switzerland, Bosnia, and Croatia, have banned his concerts in recent years due to security risks from unruly ultra-nationalist fans.

Advice

Individuals in Mostar are advised to monitor the situation and to avoid all protests due to the risk of violence.