Tens of thousands protest in Zagreb against illegal dump in Lika region

On Saturday, tens of thousands of people took to the streets of Zagreb, the capital of Croatia, demanding the immediate removal of an illegal waste dump in the Lika region — one of the country's most valuable natural areas. According to AFP, participants in the march, called "March for Lika, March for Croatia," are calling on authorities to take urgent action to address the environmental threat.

In early 2025, around 35,000 tonnes of waste — including medical and electronic waste — were discovered in the Lika region, known for its untouched forests, rivers, national parks and Velebit, the country's longest mountain range. The dump is located near the town of Gospić.

Who's under suspicion

An investigation is underway targeting ten individuals and four companies suspected of illegally importing waste from Slovenia, Italy and Germany, as well as illegally dumping it. Medical waste of Croatian origin was also found at the site.

According to a prosecutor's report released in August, soil in the Gospić area has indeed been contaminated, and the dump has expanded beyond its original boundaries. The report warns of "significant risk to the environment and human health," though health authorities say the town's drinking water supply has not yet been affected.

March backed by the president and opposition

The protest was supported by Croatian President Zoran Milanović, opposition parties, prominent public figures and non-governmental organizations. Participants carried national flags and signs reading "Ecocide equals slow genocide" and "Stop the waste imports."

"I want a beautiful, clean and healthy Croatia for my children, so they can drink water from any tap in this country," Katarina Kendova, who came to the march with her three children, told AFP. She called it a "very serious incident" that needs to be stopped immediately, "before all of Croatia ends up buried under garbage."

What the protesters are demanding

The march organizers insist that authorities present a concrete plan for eliminating the dump within 20 days, with all the waste fully removed within three months. They are also demanding that everyone responsible for the illegal dumping be held accountable.

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković announced in early September that the dump site would be closed and the waste removed by mid-October.

Around Prague, based on reporting by seznamzpravy.cz