Residents of Botun and Zeta are set to continue their protests today against the construction of a wastewater treatment facility in the KAP industrial zone in Botun. Gatherings are planned for 14:00 near the construction site, where demonstrators will voice their opposition to the project.
In anticipation of the protest, members of the Police Administration are already on the scene. Alongside several police patrols, about twenty officers from a special unit equipped for crowd control are present. Preparatory work for the treatment facility is ongoing, with security personnel from the private firm “Montenegro” stationed at the construction gates.
On January 13, residents of Zeta began daily blockades of key traffic routes in the region, opposing the wastewater treatment plant. The protests intensified last week, leading to a four-hour blockade of a roundabout near Podgorica Airport, which drew hundreds of participants. Local representatives have committed to continuing daily protests until construction halts and they receive a response from relevant authorities.
Yesterday, protests were suspended in observance of the religious holiday Bogojavljenje, but residents have indicated that they will keep the public informed about their next steps. The local authorities responded to the protests by sanctioning 31 individuals last week for participating in unauthorized gatherings in Podgorica and Zeta. One individual was penalized for obstructing a railway line with an unregistered vehicle.
Tensions escalated during the blockade near the roundabout on the Nikšić–Cetinje highway, where physical and verbal confrontations occurred between protesters and police, leading to several arrests for public disorder.
As the situation develops, the presence of heavy police forces at the construction site remains a focal point for media coverage, with a local photojournalist capturing the unfolding events. The community’s resolve appears strong as they prepare to gather again this afternoon.
