Vladimir Barović (1939 – September 29, 1991) was a [[Yugoslav People's Army]] (JNA) general of [[Montenegrin]] ethnicity. He is widely remembered for his act of suicide in 1991 during the [[Croatian War of Independence]], an event that has made him a symbol of integrity and resistance to the conflict in the former [[Yugoslavia]].
Biography
Born in 1939 in [[Banja Luka]], then part of the [[Kingdom of Yugoslavia]], Barović pursued a career in the military. By the early 1990s, as Yugoslavia began to disintegrate, he held the rank of Major General in the JNA. In 1991, he was appointed commander of the 9th Military Naval Sector, which included the Novi Sad Corps, engaged in operations along the Croatian coast, including the impending [[Siege of Dubrovnik]].Death and Legacy
On September 29, 1991, General Barović committed suicide on the island of [[Vis]], then under JNA control. Reports indicate that he chose to take his own life rather than lead his troops in actions he considered immoral or unjust. His suicide was reportedly preceded by his stated inability to fight against his own people (referring to his Montenegrin background and the involvement of Montenegrin units in the JNA operations against Croats) and his refusal to command a unit "that is doing evil." His reported words, "Montenegrins cannot fight against Croats," became emblematic of his stand against the war.Barović's act of conscience made him a revered figure in [[Montenegro]] and among anti-war circles in the former Yugoslavia. He is often contrasted with other military leaders of the time who participated in or orchestrated war crimes. In 2016, [[Podgorica]], the capital of Montenegro, posthumously awarded him the "Podgorica Award," and streets in several Montenegrin cities bear his name, including a square in [[Tivat]]. His legacy is celebrated as an example of moral courage and human decency amidst the atrocities of war.