President Aleksandar Vučić attended and addressed the central commemoration of the Day of Remembrance for victims of genocide in the Independent State of Croatia at the Jasenovac camp’s main execution site in Donja Gradina, together with officials from Serbia and Republika Srpska. Both opposition and pro-government outlets agree that the ceremony involved laying wreaths, religious and state memorial rituals, and formal speeches honoring the Serb victims of Ustaša crimes during the Second World War, and that Vučić used the occasion to speak about the suffering and survival of the Serbian people.

Across the spectrum, media describe Jasenovac and Donja Gradina as a central symbol of Serb suffering in the twentieth century and as a foundational reference point in contemporary Serbian historical memory. Both sides note that the commemoration is jointly organized by Serbian and Republika Srpska institutions, that it is framed as a day of mourning but also of national reflection, and that the event is used to reinforce narratives about the need to preserve peace, protect national identity, and prevent any repetition of large-scale crimes against Serbs.

Areas of disagreement

Tone and focus of Vučić’s speech. Pro-government outlets portray Vučić’s address as a dignified, powerful and statesmanlike speech that combines mourning for the victims with a confident promise that there will never again be “tractors, expelled Serbs, or genocide” against the Serbian people. Opposition outlets, by contrast, tend to depict the same rhetoric as excessive, theatrical or politically opportunistic, accusing Vučić of using dramatic language about genocide and national freedom less for genuine commemoration and more to mobilize his base and distract from current domestic problems.

Use of victimhood and historical memory. Pro-government coverage underscores Jasenovac as proof of historic injustice and portrays Serbs as a small but proud nation, an “island of freedom in Europe” that has survived repeated attempts at annihilation, arguing that constant remembrance is essential for national cohesion and security. Opposition media usually accept the importance of remembering Jasenovac but criticize what they describe as the instrumentalization of victimhood, claiming that the government converts sincere remembrance into a permanent siege mentality that justifies its own power and hardline policies.

Political messaging and regional relations. In pro-government narratives, Vučić’s pledge that Serbia will never again allow expulsions or genocide is framed as a firm but peaceful guarantee that Serbia will protect its people wherever they live, while still wishing well to both Serbia and Republika Srpska. Opposition outlets are more inclined to argue that such statements risk aggravating relations with neighbors and the wider region, suggesting that the government blurs lines between legitimate remembrance and veiled geopolitical signaling that can hinder reconciliation and Serbia’s European path.

Personalization of leadership. Pro-government media emphasize Vučić’s remark that he is “proud” to be attacked by those who “hate us,” presenting this as proof that he is personally bearing the burden of defending Serb interests and that criticism of him is really hostility toward the Serbian people. Opposition sources interpret the same framing as self-victimization and personalization of the state, arguing that Vučić places himself at the center of national tragedy and memory to equate loyalty to Serbia with loyalty to his leadership.

In summary, opposition coverage tends to treat the Jasenovac commemoration as a solemn event overshadowed by Vučić’s political self-promotion and nationalist messaging, while pro-government coverage tends to present it as a unifying, dignified ceremony where a strong president vows to protect the Serbian people and honor the victims.