Protests against epidemiological restrictions were held in five Croatian cities on Saturday, drawing several thousand citizens who demanded an end to the mandatory wearing of face masks.

The protests, organised by the Rights and Freedoms initiative, were held in Zagreb, Dubrovnik, Split, Šibenik and Osijek.

Croatians thus joined in protest walks held in some 40 countries around the world under the slogan “World march for freedom, peace and democracy”.

An announcement of the protest said the initiative was aimed at raising awareness of the role of people in decision-making, encouraging citizens to act and create a medium for educating citizens about their constitutionally guaranteed rights and freedoms.

The Croatian protestors rallied to express their dissatisfaction with restrictions imposed to fight the coronavirus epidemic, which, the protest organisers said, they consider as authoritarian and as having brought more harm than benefit.

The World March for Freedom, Peace and Democracy was held in more than 100 cities in 40 countries today, with its organisers pointing to what they consider as an unjustified imposition of epidemiological restrictions and the fact that basic human rights are inalienable.