Before, during and after the welcoming of the Croatian handball team at Ban Jelačić Square in Zagreb, no incidents were recorded and no police action was taken, the Hina agency reported, citing information from the Zagreb Police Department (PUZ).
Tens of thousands of fans welcomed the national handball team, which won the bronze medal at the European Championship, to the main square in Zagreb.
At the handball players' welcome, which the Government, in cooperation with the Croatian Handball Association (HRS), organized outside the City of Zagreb, the Zaprešić Boysi, Hrvatske ruže, and controversial singer Marko Perković Tompson performed, as requested by the HRS.
HRT writes that during Thompson's performance, a large banner with the inscription "United against fascism" was unfurled on one of the buildings on Ban Jelačić Square, and that at the same time flags with the first white field and scarves with the inscription "Ready for Homeland" could be seen in the audience.
Zagreb Mayor Tomislav Tomašević did not allow Thompson to perform at the welcome party in the city square, after which the Croatian government took over the organization. The Croatian handball players wanted Thompson to sing at the welcome party, in addition to the planned performers, but the City of Zagreb was explicit that he could not perform.
Tomašević said today that the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) controls Thompson and has been using him for a year to overthrow the city government. He stressed that the HDZ is instrumentalizing the athletes' welcome for political purposes, which he described as regrettable. He warned that this will not stop, but that he intends to fight against it.
"As the mayor of Zagreb, I am glad that there was no Ustasha, unconstitutional salute from the stage on the main square, but I must also say that I expected it after the Government took over the organization of the welcome. I said that all the masks have fallen and that it is clear that HDZ controls Thompson. When he sings at the Hippodrome, then there is an Ustasha salute. When he sings at the Arena, there is an Ustasha salute, even at the cost of not being able to have a concert anywhere in the city. However, when he sings on the Square at the welcome organized by the Government, there is no Čavoglav or Ustasha salute. How is that? Why didn't the Government allow it if there is nothing controversial," Tomašević asked at today's press conference.
He said that he would continue to fight against Ustasha salutes and that he would defend constitutional values.
Tomašević said that he warned Prime Minister Andrej Plenković in a conversation that he was breaking the law.
"Why didn't Plenković have tea and come to the reception? He invited me. He was in Zagreb. What, he had some other business," he asked.
When asked against whom the charges will be filed, Tomašević replied: "Against the organizers. As far as we know, the organizers are the Government."
He added that a dozen municipal violations related to the organizer were recorded, 14 related to accompanying stands.
"Cleanliness must clean the Square. What, to keep it dirty? We have to take care of the functioning of the city. But the organizers will be billed, don't worry," he said.
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