Today marks thirty-four years since the death of Admiral Vladimir Barović, who took his own life on 29 September 1991, in a principled protest against the orders of the Supreme Command of the Yugoslav People’s Army to shell coastal settlements in Croatia from the island of Vis, becoming one of the most striking examples of moral resistance during the wars of the 1990s.
Today, as historical revisionism gains momentum – glorifying war criminals and erecting monuments to those who left a trail of blood – it is especially important to remember the people who, despite pressures and consequences, remained faithful to principles and honor.
One such example is Admiral Barović, commander of the naval forces in the Istra region, who in his farewell letter clearly stated that he would not follow destructive policies and hinted that, if he were unable to stop the wrongdoing, he would take his own life.
“There will be no destruction while I am in command, and if I am forced to order destruction, I will no longer be here. Montenegrins cannot fight and destroy people who have done them no harm.”
Unfortunately, Barović’s courageous act could not prevent the approaching devastation, and just two days after his suicide, the JNA attacked Dubrovnik, and later the Republic of Croatia, which had previously declared independence.
Courage, principled action, and moral responsibility remain timeless values whose significance endures even today. In a time when it often seems that these principles do not shape the decisions of those in power, it is important to remember that true responsibility arises not from formality, but from consistent adherence to the fundamental values that make society just. For this reason, one of the essential duties of authorities is to preserve and institutionalize the legacy of those whose stories unite, rather than divide society.
Although Admiral Barović was posthumously awarded the Order for Bravery in 2016, on the initiative of the Civic Alliance and by the then-President of Montenegro, Filip Vujanović, to this day there is no monument or street in Montenegro bearing his name. Therefore, it is justifiably concluded that his heroic act has never received appropriate attention in the country. On the other hand, on 12 September 2022, a memorial plaque for Vladimir Barović was unveiled on the island of Vis, Croatia, as a mark of remembrance and respect, installed by the local Ministries of Defence and Foreign and European Affairs.
