Speaking at a panel debate organised by the Croatian Generals Corps, Cesic said that the proceedings against Glavas, who is charged with war crimes against civilians, were a rigged political trial.
He urged Glavas, who was remanded in custody last week after which he started a hunger strike, to discontinue the hunger strike "for the sake of his son, Osijek and Croatia".
Cesic called on the public to support Glavas in a peaceful and dignified manner and not give in to provocation.
"Those who have worked their whole lives against the Croatian state are doing the same now. We should organise ourselves and confront them, not with weapons this time, but with democratic means, at the next parliamentary elections," Cesic said.
The head of the Generals Corps, retired General Marinko Kresic, said that the Glavas case was motivated by political conflicts, and added that the rule of law could function only if there was an independent judiciary and independent legislative and executive authorities.
"The country is led by individuals who follow a policy of subservience to insignificant foreign officials and do not listen to the people who have elected them. We, too, condemn crimes, but not the way this is being done today, and we will no longer tolerate hooligans prosecuting people who have built Croatia," Kresic said.
Retired general Zeljko Glasnovic warned about what he called attempts to disintegrate national unity in Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croat communities living in other countries.
Former Justice Minister Bosiljko Misetic said that attempts to disintegrate national unity were directed against the main factor of national integration, Croatian soldiers.
"The policy towards Croatian soldiers is at its lowest level and this is an opportunity to mobilise the moral substance of the Croatian people," Misetic said.