Serbia and Croatia face social and environmental protests

In Serbia, the Šabac Eparchy has issued an appeal to the organizers of the ‘Ima mesta za sve’ Pride caravan to cancel planned demonstrations in Šabac and Loznica. The Church stated that there is no need for the event and expressed concern over potential social divisions and tensions. In response, the association ‘Da se zna!’ condemned the Church’s opposition, asserting that Serbia is a secular state and that the right to peaceful assembly is constitutionally guaranteed. The association also called for police protection for participants following reports of threats of violence.

In Croatia, citizens are organizing a large-scale protest in Zagreb scheduled for September 5. The movement, titled ‘Hodaj za Liku, hodaj za Hrvatsku’, is a response to the ongoing crisis regarding dangerous waste management and illegal dumping in the Lika region, specifically near Gospić. Organizers, including the civic initiative ‘Gospić je naš dom’, claim that the state has failed to act despite long-standing environmental concerns. To encourage participation, free transportation is being organized from cities such as Zadar to the capital.