 In the 1980s , the political situation in Yugoslavia deteriorated , with national tension fanned by the 1986 Serbian <unk> <unk> and the 1989 coups in <unk> , Kosovo and Montenegro . In January 1990 , the Communist Party fragmented along national lines , with the Croatian faction demanding a looser federation . In the same year , the first multi @-@ party elections were held in Croatia , with Franjo Tuđman 's win resulting in further nationalist tensions . The Croatian Serb politicians boycotted the Sabor , and local Serbs seized control of Serb @-@ inhabited territory , setting up road blocks and voting for those areas to become autonomous . The Serb " autonomous <unk> " would soon unite to become the internationally <unk> Republic of Serbian <unk> ( <unk> ) , intent on achieving independence from Croatia . 
