Serbia denies entry to activist Dr. Valentin Yanev amid mining disputes

Serbian border police denied entry to Dr. Valentin Yanev, an activist from the ‘Western Borderlands’ association, at the Ribarci border crossing on August 11. The denial was reportedly based on a ‘negative assessment due to a security risk,’ though the specific nature of this risk was not clarified.

Dr. Yanev was traveling with Dimitar Kumanov from the ‘Balkanika’ association to participate in an ecological discussion in Bosilegrad. The meeting involved representatives from the Bern Convention Bureau, who were visiting to investigate environmental concerns related to mining activities in the Karamannica and Musul villages, as well as the Homolje Mountains and the Mlava River canyon.

Activists intended to present reports regarding the health impacts and environmental damage caused by mining operations, specifically concerning lead and zinc extraction. Dimitar Kumanov noted that water samples in the region have shown heavy metal concentrations 40 to 50 times above normal levels. The denial of entry prevented Dr. Yanev from presenting findings on the health status of local populations and water contamination to the Bern Convention mission.