The historical unit of Krapina-Zagorje County, "Kostelska pištola – Keglevićeva straža Kostel", issued a statement following a social media controversy regarding its participation in the official protocol in Kumrovec, at the monument to Josip Broz Tito. The unit rejected accusations of hypocrisy, double standards and political gain.
The statement highlighted that it participated in Kumrovec at the invitation of County Mayor Željko Kolar, and that the performance was part of the official protocol of Krapina-Zagorje County. Kolar is the unit's commander-in-chief. The unit also reacted to what it described as questioning its attitude towards the victims of the Homeland War.
The association brings together 150 members, including more than 40 Croatian veterans. It is a non-profit and non-partisan association dedicated to preserving the historical, cultural and military heritage of Kostel, the Croatian Zagorje region and the Republic of Croatia. Social media posts demanded an explanation for the unit's honour guard duty at the monument to Josip Broz Tito in Kumrovec, and it was presented as a confirmed fact that the unit had been removed from the honour protocol in Vukovar.
The unit stated that its participation in Kumrovec cannot be used to conclude that all its members share certain political beliefs, justify crimes or diminish the suffering of the victims of the Homeland War. It emphasised that it respects all victims and condemns crimes, regardless of who committed them and under what circumstances.
The statement recalled that the unit performs in more than 80 public appearances annually, participates in commemorations dedicated to the Homeland War and Croatian veterans, and pays tribute to the first Croatian President, Dr Franjo Tuđman. Association members participated in the defence of the homeland on battlefields across Croatia during the Homeland War.
The unit has been coming to Vukovar for more than two decades to pay tribute to the fallen and missing Croatian veterans and civilian victims of the Homeland War. Together with other members of the Association of Historical Units of the Croatian Army, it was among the initiators of the historical units parade in Škabrnja, and has participated in that parade since 2014.
At the end of the statement, the unit thanked the Association of Historical Units of the Croatian Army and numerous member associations, as well as all individuals who showed their support.
