Karleusa: Why Is Merlin Allowed to Play in Kraljevo?

Singer Jelena Karleusa wrote on X on August 31 that two of her concerts in Bosnia and Herzegovina had been cancelled. According to her, the reason was a poor security assessment by the police, while Bosnian singer Dino Merlin faces no such problem with his concert in Kraljevo.

Two of my shows in Bosnia have been cancelled over a poor security assessment by the police. I have never once, in a single word, insulted or said anything wrong about Bosniaks. I was a child during the war in Bosnia. Dino Merlin scheduled his concert in Serbia, in Kraljevo, without any obstacles. There’s no poor security assessment from the police for him. He actively took part in all the wartime events of the ’90s, sang songs about that subject and made inflammatory statements. What do you think of this “justice” toward me

Karleusa wrote in her post on X.

Merlin’s concert is scheduled for September 5 at the Old Airport in Kraljevo, and it has drawn fierce opposition from parts of the public ever since it was announced. A petition against the concert on the Peticije.online website has gathered more than 4,960 signatures. On August 26, the Association of War Military Invalids of Kraljevo organized a rally called “You Will Not Sing” at Jovan Saric Square, where speakers said Merlin was not welcome in the city.

On Sunday, August 30, the situation escalated further. In the morning, an unidentified person broke the exterior windows of the Mihajlo Petrovic Aero Club building in Kraljevo, where the concert is scheduled to take place, and threw in flammable material. Officers from the Kraljevo Interior Ministry (MUP) carried out an on-site investigation together with forensic technicians from the Kraljevo Police Department, and the on-duty public prosecutor of the Kraljevo Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office was informed of the incident.

The concert’s organizer issued a public statement the same day.

Today, August 30, 2026, in the morning hours, an unidentified person set fire to part of the building belonging to the Mihajlo Petrovic Aero Club in Kraljevo, where Dino Merlin’s concert is scheduled for September 5, 2026. Units of the Kraljevo Interior Ministry went to the scene together with forensic technicians from the Kraljevo Police Department, carried out an on site investigation and determined that the unidentified person broke an outside window and threw in flammable material, drew up an official report, of which the on duty public prosecutor of the Kraljevo Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office was informed

the organizer said in the statement, adding that every action would be taken to ensure that anyone attempting to endanger the safety of the property or the concert itself would be apprehended and punished to the fullest extent, along with whoever ordered such actions.

Karleusa also addressed the cancelled Bosnia and Herzegovina shows in comments to Informer.

As someone who comes from a country where everyone is welcome, regardless of race or nationality, I’m sad that I’ve been kept from spending time with my audience. One show more or less doesn’t mean much to me, but I’m sorry to be the victim of injustice and twisted words. I sincerely hope the situation calms down. I will always stand by singers who perform freely in Serbia, because Serbia is a country with a big heart, a country of peace with a people that welcomes everyone with open arms. I’m proud to come from Serbia

Karleusa told Informer.

This isn’t the first time Karleusa has had a regional concert cancelled. A month ago she also lost a show at the Hacijenda club in Vodice, Croatia, again without an official explanation she considered valid.

The recent timeline looks like this:

• August 26: The Association of War Military Invalids of Kraljevo holds the “You Will Not Sing” rally at Jovan Saric Square
• August 30, morning: An unidentified person sets fire to part of the Mihajlo Petrovic Aero Club building in Kraljevo, where Merlin’s concert is scheduled
• August 30: The concert organizer issues a statement on the fire and announces tightened security measures
• August 30 and 31: Karleusa speaks on X and to Informer about her cancelled shows in Bosnia and Herzegovina
• September 5: Merlin’s concert is scheduled at the Old Airport in Kraljevo

So far, police in Bosnia and Herzegovina have issued no official statement on the specific reasons for cancelling Karleusa’s shows. The investigation into the fire in Kraljevo is ongoing, and the organizers of Merlin’s concert say security will be further strengthened for the September 5 event.