A commemoration was held in Zagreb's Croatian National Theatre (HNK) on Tuesday for late Mayor Milan Bandic with only about 150 people attending due to restrictive epidemiological measures.

Acting Mayor Jelena Pavicic-Vukicevic said that Bandić was a “politician whose work marked our contemporary history, while his talent, skills, focus and way of political life made him the greatest figure after the founder of the state, Franjo Tudjman, which even many of his political opponents admit.”

“He did not create a city closed within its walls, but a city that helped all Croatian regions and felt responsibility towards Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina too, as well as towards friendly cities throughout this part of Europe,” Pavicic-Vukicevic said in her address.

Speaking on behalf of the prime minister, Culture Minister Nina Obuljen-Korzinek said that “Bandic left behind many capital projects as well as small humane gestures dedicated to the well-being of individuals. Many citizens will remember him for his direct contact, simplicity and accessibility”.

During the ceremony, several messages of condolences were read, including those by former Russian Ambassador in Zagreb Anvar Azimov, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, the heads of the Serbian Orthodox Church and Islamic community as well as the mayor of Grude in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where Bandic was born.

Bandic passed away from a heart attack on 28 February, aged 65. He was the Mayor of Zagreb for 20 years. He will be buried in Zagreb’s Mirogoj Cemetery on Wednesday, which has been declared a day of mourning in Zagreb.