A historical flag of the Kingdom of Italy was displayed on the fence of the Governor's Palace in the northern Croatian Adriatic city of Rijeka on Thursday morning and was removed following a tip to the police.

The police found two young Italian men at the scene with another, smaller flag and several leaflets, but did not reveal their content. A criminal investigation was launched to identify and locate the persons who had hung the flag.

The two Italian men, aged 19 and 20, were brought in and fined under the Public Order Offences Act, the police said.

Italian reporter Cristiano Puglisi said in his blog that “a mysterious group called Gli Idraulici (Plumbers)” issued a statement saying that their action marked the 100th anniversary of the occupation of Rijeka by a paramilitary group of legionnaires under the command of Italian poet, adventurer and protofascist Gabriele D’Annunzio. They said they wanted to show that there were still Italians who were not surrendering.

“We wanted to prove that there are still Italians who do not want to be ruled by puppet governments that do not protect national interests. Instead of protecting their borders and citizens, they leave the door wide open to occupiers,” the group said in the statement.

It referred to the 1919-1920 government of Prime Minister Francesco Saverio Nitti and the present government of Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte which the group said represents the interests of the “anti-people and anti-national financial elite.”

The statement is accompanied by a photograph showing a large flag of the Kingdom of Italy on the fence of the Governor’s Palace in Rijeka and seven men wearing black T-shirts standing in front of it.

The Governor’s Palace was D’Annunzio’s residence during his 16-month occupation of Rijeka, and he used to deliver speeches from its balcony. The palace now houses the Maritime and History Museum which today opens an exhibition titled “D’Annunzio’s Martyr – L’olocausta di D’Annunzio”. The exhibition looks at D’Annunzio’s time in Rijeka from the perspective of non-Italian women living in Rijeka, Italian women visiting the city and his lovers.

Documenta NGO condemns display of flag

The Croatian non-governmental organisation Documenta condemned the display of the flag in a statement issued on Thursday.

“Although he is a complex historical figure, it should be noted that D’Annunzio is today used as a symbol of contemporary Italian nationalism and fascism. We condemn the display of the flag of the Kingdom of Italy on the Governor’s Palace in Rijeka as well as other contemporary manifestations of Italian nationalism which we have witnessed as of late and to some of which we have responded,” Documenta said.