Tens of thousands protest in Zagreb against delay in removing toxic waste in Lika

Tens of thousands of people gathered this Saturday (5) in the central square of Zagreb to protest against the government's delay in starting the removal of more than 30 thousand tons of waste stored in central Croatia. Environmentalists claim that the material is contaminating drinking water in the region.

One of the biggest protests held in Croatia in recent years, the protest was called "Walk for Lika", in reference to the mountainous region where waste is stored.

Last year, authorities found between 34,000 and 37,000 tons of waste on land near the town of Gospić, in the Lika region. Much of the material had been imported from Italy in 2023 and 2024. The government promised to clean up the site, but environmental groups say little has been done since then.

According to environmentalists, the waste, which includes medical material and other types of industrial waste, is contaminating the air, soil and water in Lika, a region known for its extensive areas of preserved nature. They accuse the government of moving slowly to remove the material.

Protesters carried banners with phrases such as "Croatia's lungs can no longer breathe", "Stop the destruction of Croatia" and "Nature does not forgive".

"We are dissatisfied with the government's response. The site should have been cleaned up a long time ago," said Verica Jurnjak, who traveled from Gospić to take part in the protest. "It's a shame that no one cares about our children and their future."

Prime Minister Andrej Plenković visited Gospić on Wednesday (2) and stated that the government had chosen a company to carry out the first phase of cleaning, which consists of removing waste from the site.

Croatian actor Rade Šerbedžija, known internationally for his roles in Hollywood films such as "Snatch" and "Mission: Impossible 2", also took part in the protest.

"I'm here because I need to be. It's our duty to defend our country," he said. "What happened is a disgrace, and someone needs to be held accountable."