Gorjanc-Prelević: I see the „Head for Potočari“ banner as a call for a new genocide
The failure of institutions to respond decisively to the glorification of convicted war criminals creates space for hate speech to become normalized, warned Director of Human Rights Action Tea Gorjanc-Prelević. She specifically pointed to the „Head for Potočari“ („Pravac Potočari“) banner displayed in front of around 25,000 people during a Red Star Belgrade-Partizan match, saying that what was even more disturbing was the lack of any institutional response.
- I don’t know how else to interpret it other than as a call for a new genocide. It is absolutely horrifying, but even more horrifying is the fact that, to this day, it has not been sanctioned, nor has it occurred to anyone to immediately initiate criminal proceedings and distance themselves from it - Gorjanc-Prelević said while appearing on the morning programme „Budilnik“ on Television E.
She said that she had been feeling unwell for days because of the banner, which paid tribute to Ratko Mladić.
Gorjanc-Prelević believes that such incidents do not happen spontaneously, just as, in her view, Ratko Mladić’s funeral was not spontaneous, having been held with military and state symbols.
- We must be aware that this provokes reactions on the other side. People do not simply sit quietly because they are sad. It generates resistance. I have already seen calls on social media for all of this to be „corrected“ in some future war - she warned.
Speaking about banners and chants honouring Mladić in Montenegro, Gorjanc-Prelević placed the greatest responsibility on the State Prosecutor’s Office, saying that there is no sufficiently decisive and effective response to hate speech.
- Freedom of expression, yes, but hate speech is not something that should be protected. The Criminal Code exists precisely to prevent the creation of an atmosphere that leads to violence and war. Hate speech is clearly prohibited both by the Criminal Code and by other regulations - she said.
She recalled that a decision by the Prosecutor’s Office has been awaited for months regarding chants in support of Ratko Mladić at a basketball game in Zeta, while, as she noted, a similar incident subsequently occurred at a football match.
- The Football Association of Montenegro reacted, and that deserves praise, but this is not merely a sporting offence. This is conduct that is unequivocally prohibited - Gorjanc-Prelević stressed.
Another reason for her appearance on our morning show was the „Milovan Đilas“ Award, which the Milovan Đilas Academy presented to her as part of the „Bookiranje“ festival for her contribution to strengthening and promoting freedom of thought.
Upon receiving the award, Gorjanc-Prelević warned that she was concerned about the possibility of war returning to the territory of the former Yugoslavia, saying that recent developments suggest the region has not been this close to such a danger in a long time.
She also spoke about her experiences at the border with Serbia, where, despite being a citizen of that country, she has been detained on several occasions.
- Four times I have been detained at the border without any legitimate justification. I believe this amounts to an abuse of the Security Intelligence Agency and a disregard for the rule of law - Gorjanc-Prelević said.
She believes that such treatment is also connected to her public engagement, her criticism of the promotion of war-criminal ideology, and her support for student protests in Serbia.
- I am not the only one. There are other Montenegrin citizens, my colleagues, activists and journalists, who have been subjected to similar treatment without any grounds, simply because they expressed support for the student movement. I hope things will change and that no one will ever again feel that institutions are being abused - Gorjanc-Prelević concluded.