Writer Velimir Visković published a post on his Facebook profile regarding the appearance of the Vice-Rector of the University of Defence and Security "Dr. Franjo Tuđman", Assoc. Prof. Dr. Gordan Akrap, on the show Otvoreno (Facebook post). His post was also published by the online portal Teleskop in an article titled: "Velimir Visković sharply criticizes Akrap: Plenković’s special agent delivered a torrent of chauvinistic and racist views" (Teleskop article).

We reproduce Velimir Visković's Facebook post in full:

 

Velimir Visković claimed that Assoc. Prof. Dr. Gordan Akrap stated on the show Otvoreno that “Serbs are Balkan people, a lower civilization; something we have never been, nor will we ever be.” The exact wording in the text posted on Visković’s Facebook profile reads: “I haven’t heard such a torrent of chauvinistic-racist expressions in a long time. Because Serbs are indeed Balkan people, a lower civilization; something we have never been, nor will we ever be.”

After reviewing the Otvoreno episode, we can state that writer Velimir Visković made a false claim, as Assoc. Prof. Dr. Gordan Akrap did not say that Serbs are Balkan people or a lower civilization, nor did he state that this is something we have never been or will ever be.

In the show, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Gordan Akrap said the following:

“… this is the problem where we simply cannot see that Serbia is giving up and rejecting the Balkan from itself – I’m talking about the political Balkans. That’s why I often oppose and am never in favor of calling Croatia a Balkan state, because it’s clear that we are—this may sound harsh—civilizationally completely different. We are developing differently, simply a different cultural circle.”

This statement by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Gordan Akrap was accurately reported by the online portal of Croatian Radiotelevision (HRT article).

The full show and Akrap’s statement can be viewed on the HRT YouTube channel: YouTube link

1. Velimir Visković paraphrased the statement of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Gordan Akrap on his Facebook profile in a way that, based on the episode recording, is not substantiated. His attribution of the expression “Serbs are a lower civilization” constitutes a serious accusation of racism and chauvinism – but such a statement was not made according to the publicly available footage.

This is, therefore, a false claim that can:

• Contribute to public polarization,

• Damage the reputation of a scholar (in this case, Akrap),

• Encourage false conclusions about the alleged policy of the public broadcaster HRT.

2. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Gordan Akrap clearly distinguishes between political behavior and civilizational patterns. His statement: “That’s why I oppose calling Croatia a Balkan state. We are civilizationally completely different.” ...can certainly be the subject of professional and political debate (meaning it is legitimate to comment on or dispute it), but it does not contain racist or chauvinistic formulations attributed to him in the disputed post.

He uses the term “Balkan model” as a metaphor for political culture, not as an ethnic or civilizational judgment of a people.

It should be emphasized that discussions on civilizational differences can be part of legitimate scientific and political discourse, especially when referring to value systems, institutional, and cultural patterns—not to biological or ethnic characteristics.

Such discussions can contribute to a better understanding of social and political processes, as long as they are based on facts and free from stereotypes.

Velimir Visković’s claim is not true and represents a serious misinterpretation of the words of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Gordan Akrap. From the context of the show, it is clear that this was not a chauvinistic statement, but a political-analytical comment.

Criticism is possible and legitimate, but it must be based on accurate quotations, not on fabricated or distorted claims.