The three-finger salute (Serbian: три пpcтa or tri prsta) is a salute expressing Serbian ethnic nationalism, made by extending the thumb, index, and middle fingers of the right hand. It was popularized by Jovan Rašković as a sign used by the Serbian side in the Yugoslav wars of the 1990s.
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One popular theory on the origin of the salute is based on the way that Orthodox Serbs perform the Sign of the Cross, with three extended fingers representing the Trinity. A saying often used by Serbs is: Nema krsta bez tri prsta (There is no cross without three fingers).[1]
The gesture in its modern form is attributed to Vuk Drašković, leader of the opposition Serbian Renewal Movement. In a 2007 interview, he explained that he first used it in 1990 at the founding meeting of the movement. Drašković found inspiration in a painting by Paja Jovanović depicting the Serbian prince Miloš Obrenović greeting Serb insurgents during the Takovo Uprising of 1815.[2] During the March 1991 street demonstrations in Belgrade, the three fingers were massively used by Drašković's supporters, representing the three demands that the Serbian Renewal Movement had put before the government.[3][4]
However there are other meanings of the salute and it is also used by some political opponents of the Serbian Renewal Movement.[5]
Srđan Srećković, a vice president of the Serbian Renewal Movement, said in an interview to Kurir that it can also symbolize "one finger for St. Sava, the other finger for Njegoš, and the third finger for Karađorđe".[6]
At the eve of the Yugoslav wars, the salute was popularized by Jovan Rašković, leader of the Republic of Serbian Krajina. His daughter Sanda said that he never gave explanation for using it.[2]
The three-finger salute was widely used by unionists in Montenegro during their rallies before the Montenegrin independence referendum.
The salute is also used by members and supporters of almost all Serbian political parties (excluding LDP and SPS) on their rallies during election campaigns. It can be seen at all kinds of street demonstrations, notably the Kosovo is Serbia rally.
During the Yugoslav wars, three-finger salute was used by Serb nationalist, soldiers and paramilitary units.
Slobodan Milošević, his party comrades and supporters did not use the salute. It was instead used by demonstrators in the events leading to the ousting of Slobodan Milošević
Eurovision song contest winner, Marija Šerifović, while celebrating the maximum of 12 points that she received from Bosnian viewers displayed the three-finger salute. This caused controversy as some Bosnian viewers saw it as provocation,[7][8] but Swedish Serbs called it ridiculous, saying the salute is nothing more than a modified V sign.[9]
Among Serb opponents in the Yugoslav wars – Croats, Bosniaks and Albanians – the three-finger salute is usually perceived as provocation, especially when directed at them personally. In response, their forces used the V sign as a victory/defiance sign during the war.
Rade Leskovac, president of the Party of Danube Serbs, a Serbian minority party in Croatia, caused a controversy in 2007 when election posters featuring him giving the three-fingered salute were posted around the city of Vukovar.[10]
The salute is often used by sport fans and players when celebrating sport victories. After winning the 1995 European basketball championship, the entire Yugoslav team displayed the three fingers. Sasha Djordjevic says he flashed the three fingers "not to be provocative. Just: That's Serbia, that's us, that's me – nothing else. It's my pride. "[11] During the last and decisive UEFA Euro 2000 qualifying match between Croatia and FR Yugoslavia, played at Stadion Maksimir in the Croatian capital, Zagreb, on October 9, 1999, Zoran Mirković, after being sent off, flashed the three finger salute.
After Serbia and Montenegro won the World Championship in water polo in the 2005, team captain Vladimir Vujasinović stated "thank you for being there for us in hard times, you gave us the strength to go all the way and win the gold medal. I am proud of you, my country and all my people," and displayed the traditional three-finger Serbian salute.[12] Mateja Kežman flashed the three finger salute after he scored the goal, which brought Serbia and Montenegro to 2006 World Cup, in the decisive qualification match against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Belgrade.[13] Vlade Divac is also known to have often shown the three-finger salute after wins and scores. More recently, Serbian tennis player Novak Đoković has shown the three-finger salute often after his victories.
During the 2008 Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony, Serbian president Boris Tadić and Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremić saluted the Serbian Olympic Team with three fingers. On November 9, 2008, Standard de Liège striker Milan Jovanović used the three-finger salute after winning the match and scoring a goal against Germinal Beerschot. The GB-supporters chanted "Kosovo Kosovo" during the match to intimidate Jovanović. After the match Jovanović showed the three-finger salute to the GB supporters. In an interview after the match he said that he was grateful because the GB-supporters motivated him.
Before the start of the UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying football match between Serbia and Italy held in Genoa on 12 October 2010, the Serbian national football team displayed the three-finger salute to their disorderly supporters. The game was eventually abandoned six minutes after it had begun due to the disturbances caused by a violent group of Serbian football hooligans inside the stadium.[14]
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