Ernest Petry claims state leadership knew of Gospić waste crisis

Lika-Senj County Prefect Ernest Petry has stated that the top levels of the Croatian state were aware of the illegal waste disposal issue in Gospić. Speaking in a podcast, Petry confirmed that the county has been in continuous communication with the relevant ministry, the Environmental Protection Fund, and the Government since February 2025.

Petry could not specify exactly when he spoke with Prime Minister Andrej Plenković regarding the matter, though he noted that the state leadership was informed. This contradicts previous statements by the Prime Minister, who claimed that no one mentioned the waste problem during his visit to Gospić five months ago. Additionally, the initiative ‘Gospić je naš dom’ alleged that Petry and Mayor Darko Milinović had explicitly told them the Prime Minister had been notified.

Regarding remediation, Petry announced that the removal of approximately 650 tons of non-hazardous waste and the covering of the site with foil is expected to begin next week. While procedures for treating hazardous and buried waste are underway, Petry does not guarantee the entire process will be completed within three months, but expects a resolution within the next year. He also addressed local concerns by stating that tap water in the region remains safe for drinking and that local agriculture, specifically potato production, remains unaffected.