Opposition Slams 'Organized Crime' Behind Lika's Illegal Waste Crisis
Translated from Croatian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
TLDR
- A Most parliamentary representative, Zvonimir Troskot, highlighted the issue of illegal waste disposal in Croatia's Lika region, alleging organized crime involvement.
- Troskot stated that the problem has escalated over the past 1.5 years, posing a direct threat to public health and safety, and involves national and international actors.
- Local representatives shared evidence of waste being manually dug up and removed, suggesting attempts to conceal the problem, while Troskot called for urgent water testing and criticized the government's inadequate response.
Zagreb, Croatia โ A stark warning has been issued regarding the escalating crisis of illegal waste disposal in the Lika region, with a prominent opposition figure accusing authorities of systemic failure and complicity in organized crime. Zvonimir Troskot, a parliamentary representative for the Most party, brought national attention to the issue, describing it as a direct threat to public health and safety, and a manifestation of 'organized crime with national and international elements.'
People have been manually digging and removing waste for days, this is organized crime.
Speaking in Otoฤac, Troskot detailed how the problem has intensified over the last eighteen months, painting a grim picture of waste being systematically brought into the region, buried, and then exhumed, all in an effort to cover tracks. He asserted that this is not an isolated incident but a 'octopus' involving local structures, state institutions, and international players. The situation is so dire that local residents have resorted to manually digging up and removing waste themselves, a desperate measure highlighting the perceived inaction of official bodies.
Anamarija Jurkoviฤ, a Most councilor for the Lika-Senj County, corroborated these claims with on-the-ground evidence, including hundreds of photos and videos. She emphasized that current efforts are focused on concealment rather than resolution. Troskot further raised concerns about the potential presence of hazardous substances like PFAS, asbestos, and heavy metals, calling for immediate and continuous water monitoring throughout Lika, arguing that one-off tests are insufficient.
This is not an isolated case, but an octopus that includes local structures, state institutions, and international actors. We are witnessing organized crime that directly threatens people's health and the environment.
Most's criticism extends to the government's handling of the crisis, particularly its alleged inadequate response and the lack of budget allocation for landfill remediation until 2028. Troskot directly challenged Prime Minister Plenkoviฤ's rhetoric about national stability, questioning how such stability can be claimed when Lika is becoming a 'European dumping ground' and citizens' health is severely endangered. The party also pointed fingers at key figures allegedly linked to past waste scandals who remain at large, suggesting a deep-rooted problem within the system that prioritizes cover-ups over genuine environmental protection and public well-being.
What kind of pillar of stability and unity is the Prime Minister talking about when Lika is becoming a European landfill and people's health and safety are seriously threatened?
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by Veฤernji List in Croatian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
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