MASSIVE PROTEST IN CROATIA: Citizens take to the streets over tens of thousands of tons of hazardous waste, Milanović also lends his support!

A protest called “Walk for Lika, Walk for Croatia”*** is being held today in Zagreb, organized following a major scandal involving tens of thousands of tons of hazardous waste dumped in the Gospić area.***

The gathering of participants is scheduled for 11 a.m. at Zagreb’s King Tomislav Square, from where a peaceful procession will head toward Ban Josip Jelačić Square, where the central part of the program is scheduled for noon.

The organizers are demanding the urgent and complete remediation of contaminated sites, the establishment of responsibility, and clear deadlines for removing the waste that threatens the health of citizens and the ecosystem of Lika.

Seven buses are expected to come from Lika alone, in addition to those who will travel to Zagreb in their own cars. Demonstrators are expected from across Croatia, and this could be one of the largest protests in the history of Croatia.

The decades-old pride of Lika – the Velebit Agricultural and Food Combine in Gospić – is today a symbol of crime, shady dealings, and the illegal dumping of hazardous waste.

DOK JE GORELA DELIBLATSKA PEŠČARA: Vlast usvojila zakon za gradnju na izgorelom šumskom zemljištu!

The “Gospić Is Our Home” Civic Initiative published the plan and program for today’s protest in Zagreb.

On Saturday, September 5, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., a public gathering called “Walk for Gospić, Walk for Croatia” will be held at Ban Josip Jelačić Square in Zagreb. The planned route for participants is: King Tomislav Square – Josip Juraj Strossmayer Square – Nikola Šubić Zrinski Square – Praška Street – Ban Josip Jelačić Square. In accordance with the Law on Police Duties and Powers, and pursuant to Article 79 of the aforementioned law, as part of securing the event, Zagreb police will make audiovisual recordings of the public gathering at the assembly point, along the route, and on access roads – the police announced.

Ahead of the protest, the “Gospić Is Our Home” Civic Initiative sent its demands to the Government last night, the first being that within 20 days it present a comprehensive remediation program with binding deadlines.

They are then demanding that the Government urgently remove 33,000 tons of buried waste within three months. They are also demanding that the “Rakitovac” municipal landfill be included in the Waste Management Plan, as well as the introduction of long-term, comprehensive monitoring that includes engaging independent experts to develop a long-term monitoring plan and conduct an independent risk assessment.

At the level of Croatia, the “Gospić Is Our Home” Civic Initiative is demanding that the Government introduce collective protection into the Environmental Protection Act, that all known “black spots” be included in the Waste Management Plan with clear deadlines and financial frameworks, and that a temporary ban on waste imports be introduced until further notice, to take effect immediately.

The official program, during which they will present their demands to the Government, will be held at Ban Jelačić Square, and it has been announced that it will begin with people sharing their experiences of what it means to “live 50 meters from the Silos.”

Representatives of the “Gospić Is Our Home” Civic Initiative and the “Sisak Residents Do Not Want to Be Garbage Residents” Civic Initiative will then speak, along with representatives of associations who will warn about the so-called “black spots” in Croatia.

This will be followed, as announced, by a critique of the profession entitled “The Wealth and Misery of Our Karst,” and then a closing speech presenting the demands to the Government.

During the gathering at King Tomislav Square at 11 a.m., the organizers will greet those gathered and provide instructions on the walk to Ban Jelačić Square, as well as service and safety information.

Let us look after one another, just as we want our country to be looked after – the organizers said on their Facebook page ahead of the protest.
Everyone should be there on Saturday, and the stores should even be closed, so everyone can go. I even persuaded my children to come, so the more people, the better – one woman said.

Representatives of both the left-wing and right-wing parliamentary opposition have announced their attendance at the protest. The protest was supported by Croatian President Zoran Milanović, while his chief of staff, Orsat Miljenić, has also announced that he will attend.

Milanović said he sees the protest as a call for institutions to begin addressing the problem in Gospić and other places more quickly and efficiently, but also as a call to establish the responsibility of everyone who enabled its import and illegal disposal.

Preserving nature and the human environment, and thereby protecting people’s health, is one of the highest values of the constitutional order of the Republic of Croatia, Milanović emphasized.

Main demands to the Government of the Republic of Croatia

Gospić

The comprehensive remediation plan has been presented to the public with binding deadlines – DEADLINE OF 20 DAYS!
Urgent removal of 33,000 tons of hazardous waste – DEADLINE: 3 MONTHS
Long-term comprehensive monitoring – engaging independent experts who will develop a comprehensive long-term monitoring plan and conduct an independent risk assessment

At the level of Croatia

Introduction of collective protection into the Environmental Protection Act
Inclusion of all known black spots in the Waste Management Plan with clear deadlines and financial frameworks
Temporary ban on waste imports until further notice – TAKES EFFECT IMMEDIATELY!

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