"Wir sind sehr besorgt über die Aktion der HRT".

The Serbian National Council (SNV) has expressed deep concern over the actions of Croatian Radiotelevision (HRT), criticizing its decision to include Dr. Maria Jareb, a historian associated with revisionist views on the Ustasha regime, in an early morning news broadcast. In an open letter addressed to HRT's leadership, the SNV accused the public broadcaster of promoting a distorted historical narrative that undermines the values enshrined in Croatia’s constitution. The letter was sent following a segment aired on Monday morning that featured Jareb discussing the uprising in Serbia during World War II. According to the SNV, Jareb's appearance on HRT's program aimed to perpetuate a revisionist interpretation of the events surrounding the Ustasha-led Independent State of Croatia (NDH). The SNV emphasized that this approach contradicts the constitutional foundation of the Republic of Croatia, which is based on opposing the Ustasha regime. The group criticized HRT for allowing a historian linked to extreme right-wing perspectives to influence public discourse, arguing that such content does not belong in a public service media outlet. In their letter, the SNV called upon all citizens who value the principles outlined in Croatia’s constitution to refrain from supporting a public service that they claim is being manipulated by extremist historians. They urged viewers to attend a public forum scheduled for Monday evening in Serbia, where historians Milan Radanović, Dr. Igor Mrkalj, and Dr. Ivo Goldstein will speak on the events before, during, and after the uprising in Serbia. The SNV invited HRT journalists and editors to follow the event via a live stream on the organization’s Facebook page, stating that it would provide valuable insight into the historical context that HRT appears to be ignoring. The SNV also requested that HRT chief editor Eljana Čandrić halt the broadcasting of Jareb’s statements in future programs. They described her remarks as historically inaccurate and misleading, claiming that her account downplays the role of communists and highlights collaboration between Serbs and Italian occupying forces. According to the SNV, Jareb’s comments failed to acknowledge the reasons behind the uprising and the atrocities committed by the Ustasha regime from the very beginning of its formation. Dr. Jareb, in her interview with HRT, suggested that the uprising was primarily led by Serbs under the Chetnik movement against the NDH authorities. She claimed that the number of communists involved was minimal and that some collaborated with Italian occupation forces. Additionally, she alleged that the insurgents were responsible for ethnic cleansing targeting Croats and Muslims in the region. However, the SNV argued that these claims ignore the broader historical context and fail to address the initial crimes committed by the Ustasha regime shortly after its establishment. The SNV's criticism comes amid growing tensions over how history is taught and discussed in both Croatia and Serbia. Their open letter underscores concerns about the role of public media in shaping national narratives and the potential consequences of allowing revisionist interpretations to gain traction in mainstream discourse. The SNV continues to advocate for a more balanced and accurate portrayal of historical events, emphasizing the importance of adhering to factual accounts rather than allowing ideological biases to influence public understanding.