Branimir Glavaš received multiple Croatian honors for his role during the Croatian War of Independence. Those decorations were later revoked after his war-crimes conviction became final, a step taken by President Ivo Josipović.

In 2021, Croatia’s Constitutional Court and subsequent legal developments meant Glavaš was no longer in the same legal position as someone whose conviction was final. Speaking publicly in 2021, President Zoran Milanović said Glavaš asked for his decorations to be returned and that Milanović’s action followed what he described as the relevant legal framework governing decorations and their revocation.

Milanović added that if Glavaš were to be convicted again and the judgment became final, he said the president would then again have to act in line with the law, consistent with Josipović’s earlier decision.