Activists gather 5,000 signatures against mine expansion in Serbia

Activists have gathered around 5,000 objections in Belgrade in a single day, protesting the planned expansion of mines near the Serbian cities of Zaječar and Bor. This significant mobilization highlights growing public opposition to the mining activities, particularly those conducted by the company Ziđin.

In Zaječar, approximately 2,000 citizens signed the petition "Zaječar Against Mines – I Live Here and Don't Want to Move" within just three hours. This demonstrates strong local resistance to the uncontrolled expansion of mining operations in the Malka Golaja area and surrounding villages. Additionally, about 300 objections were collected regarding the expansion plan for the Čukaru Peki and Malka Golaja mines, according to the Eko Istok nature preservation association.

“

We collected about 1000 signatures (groups from New Belgrade). Groups from the city also collected... Now we have about 5,000 signatures and the deadline for collecting objections is August 3.

Support also came from Knjaževac, where citizens added another 150 signatures against the mining expansion in that part of Serbia. Maja Bjelanović, an activist from Zbor Ušće, stated that the collection efforts are ongoing, with a deadline of August 3 for submitting objections. The spatial plan in question covers 126 square kilometers and is operated by Ziđin, a company that activists criticize for environmental damage.

Further signature collection for the civil petition against mining will continue in eastern Serbia, with plans to visit villages directly impacted by the mining operations. The initiative is supported by several environmental and youth associations, including "Eko Istok," "Center for Biosphere Protection Balkan," and "Zaječar residents in blockade."

“

The company is known for everything but good. They have destroyed so much nature and life.