Stop for Knindža to avoid riots: Police ban controversial singer's performance in Pljevlja

The Pljevlja police decided yesterday not to allow the singer to perform for security reasons. Mirko Pajcin, better known as Baja Mali Knindža, will hold a concert in Pljevlja on May 21st, on the 20th anniversary of the restoration of statehood.

"Namely, the security assessments conducted have determined that there is a justified security risk that during the holding of the public gathering in question, there could be a violation of public order and peace and a threat to the safety of citizens and property, the commission of criminal offenses, a threat to human rights and freedoms and special minority rights and freedoms of other persons, as well as a threat to the safety of persons and property," the Police Directorate (PD) announced.

They pointed out that, ultimately, holding the concert would potentially disrupt the civic and multiethnic harmony of Montenegro, "which is defined by the Constitution as a civic state."

The Police Department stated that on May 14th (Thursday), an application was submitted to the Pljevlja Security Department for holding a public event - the Spasovdan concert, with a reported performance by "vocal soloist Mirko Pajčin and the orchestra", at the 13th of July Square in Pljevlja, for May 21st, starting at 20 p.m.

"The report was submitted by a natural person on behalf of the organizer of the public gathering, the Serbian Cultural Center 'Patriarch Varnava'." B. J.", said the UP.

The application was submitted on behalf of the organizer by Bozidar Jelovac (New Serbian Democracy), party colleague of the President of the Municipality of Pljevlja Daria Vraneš and a councilor in the parliament there.

"The organizer of the public gathering was informed of the above (decision of the Pljevlja police), who was served with a decision banning the public event, with the organizer's obligation to act in accordance with the decision," the UP said.

Jelovac told "Vijesti" earlier yesterday, before the UP statement, that they had organized concerts several times before, and that they had never received written notices from the police.

"We have duly submitted the application and are carrying out all necessary activities related to the concert. We have notified the emergency services, municipal police, fire department, we are organizing security and everything else that needs to be included in the organization of such an event," he said.

According to Jelovac, the organizers' original plan was not to release additional information to the public until Wednesday, but to then officially announce all the details and confirm whether the concert would take place.

A group of non-governmental organizations and activists issued a statement expressing their protest against the announcement of a performance by Baja Mali Knindža, whose songs incite hatred towards Bosniaks and Muslims, and "deeply offend all who uphold civic and anti-fascist values."

"His performances have been banned in Croatia and the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, because the lyrics of his songs are considered hate speech," they said in a statement.

Since the 1990s, when the bloody disintegration of Yugoslavia began, Pajčin has been known for his nationalist repertoire.