The United Against Fascism initiative had announced that it would prevent the nationalist gathering which it said advocated "the criminal Nazi ideology", but this did not happen because the police formed a human shield to separate the two rival groups and the rally ended peacefully, with the two groups trading insults.

The police said four people were arrested during the protest, and two of them were soon released. According to reporters, among the arrested protesters were two anti-fascists and a right-winger.

The purpose of the rally organised by the Croatian Culture Movement was to "distribute promotional materials and express political views", but the event drew few citizens who declared themselves as "Croatian patriots".

The HUP called the protest after the Ministry of the Interior on Thursday banned the right-wing Croatian Pure Party of Rights (HCSP) from organising two international gatherings of far-right parties, saying the gatherings were to have been attended by people prone to violence.

In a proclamation issued on the occasion of April 10, the anniversary of the establishment of the World War II Nazi-puppet Independent State of Croatia (NDH), the HUP said that all Croatian presidents were "Orthodox Communists" and all prime ministers "Communists, members of (the Yugoslav secret service) UDBA, free masons and gay lovers."

The United Against Fascism initiative said today's conflict was not one of two opposed subcultures, but one between "civilisation and barbarism, ordinary people and fascist evil-doers."