The protest was organised by the civic initiative Gospić Is Our Home, which demanded from the Croatian government the immediate and complete remediation of sites where hazardous waste has been stored, the establishment of accountability, and clear deadlines for its removal.
The gathering began at 11:00 am at Zagreb’s King Tomislav Square, from where the procession set off towards Ban Jelačić Square, where the main part of the protest took place at noon.
Among the participants were Zagreb Mayor Tomislav Tomašević and the president of the Most party, Nikola Grmoja, who stated that it was vital for the citizens’ demands to be met.
Seven demands to the Government
The organisers submitted seven demands to the Government, including presenting a remediation plan within 20 days, removing 33,000 tonnes of buried hazardous waste in Gospić within three months, and banning waste imports into Croatia until further notice.
The authorities were also asked to identify the locations of all “blackspots” where hazardous waste has been buried, to establish long-term monitoring of water, soil, and air, and to determine accountability for what was described as inaction.
Croatian flags and banners were on display at the protest, demanding urgent remediation, an end to waste imports, and accountability for illegal disposal.
Support from Milanović; HDZ absent from protest
Opposition parties in Croatia supported the protest, as did Croatian President Zoran Milanović, whilst representatives of the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) were not present.
The speakers’ shared message was a call for accountability. Whilst some insisted on criminal liability for those who participated in or facilitated the illegal handling of waste, others demanded political accountability from those responsible for the system or who failed to react in time.
Through the protest march from King Tomislav Square to Ban Jelačić Square, the organisers sought to turn the waste disposal issue in Lika from a local concern into a national matter, demanding immediate remediation alongside criminal and political accountability.
Participants were asked to keep the protest peaceful, refrain from disrupting public services, and ensure no rubbish was left behind after the rally.
(RTS, 05.09.2026)
https://www.rts.rs/vesti/region/6033068/protest-zagreb-otpad-lika.html