The response has been woefully inadequate. We approached 13 companies accused of abuse, inviting them to respond to the allegations, but only two, Mineco and Zijin Mining, provided a response. Even then, when confronted with accusations of environmental pollution resulting in adverse impacts on local communities’ livelihoods, they responded by emphasising their commitment to environmental protection and compliance with national legislation.

Mineco outright denied the allegation, saying claims about its projects having harmful impacts on the environment were ‘incorrect and unfounded’. Zijin Mining’s subsidiary, Serbia Zijin Copper, said it’s addressing local communities’ concerns and ‘will continue to invest in environmental improvements and work toward achieving harmonious coexistence and shared development with the local community’. Separately, JSC Aktyubinsk Chromium Compounds Plant reached out to us, asking to respond to the allegations concerning its operations mentioned in the report.

The root of the problem lies in structural power imbalances, with a major accountability gap caused by the lack of access to remedy. In most countries, major mining companies are owned or controlled by powerful businesspeople with close ties to political elites. For instance, the highest number of allegations – a total of 31 – were linked to Russian company United Company RUSAL, owned by a group that belongs to a Russian billionaire under EU sanctions. The company owns two of the five plants with the most allegations, and last year recorded the highest number of workplace deaths and injuries, with 12 incidents reported across its mines and plants.

Corruption compounds these accountability failures. In Ukraine, local activists have accused JSC Marhanets Mining and Processing Plant, owned by four Cyprus-registered shareholder companies, of corruption, document falsification and tax evasion. Despite claims of shelling-related disruption, investigations found no damage to its offices or records. Activists suspect the company may have falsified documents about war-related damage to avoid tax obligations. They view this as coordinated tax evasion potentially involving collusion or inaction by tax authorities and courts.

CSOs are monitoring risks and documenting abuses associated with the growing demand for transition minerals in the region, engaging with local communities in advocacy efforts that target businesses and international financial institutions and calling for more responsible practices. This includes the adoption of just transition principles that promote shared prosperity, human rights due diligence and fair negotiations, the enforcement of free, prior and informed consent for affected communities and a commitment to zero tolerance for attacks against human rights defenders. Additionally, CSOs are building coalitions across countries and participating in EU-wide and global policy processes by integrating their concerns into instruments such as the EU Critical Raw Materials Act, a comprehensive regulation adopted in March 2024 with the aim of securing Europe’s supply of materials essential for its green energy transition and digital transformation.

Grassroots resistance is intensifying dramatically. Our 2024 findings show a sharp rise in protests against mining projects considered harmful, making it the sixth most frequently reported issue in the region. In Serbia, residents of Šabac, and later those of Belgrade, protested against the development of Rio Tinto’s Jadar lithium project, voicing serious environmental and health concerns because of the site’s close proximity to their homes.

However, resistance faces brutal crackdowns. In Georgia, courts banned protests against Georgian Manganese LLC near the Chiatura mines, while a subcontractor filed 30 lawsuits against residents of Shukruti to stifle demonstrations. Protesters were also fired from their jobs. Meanwhile, in Serbia, three activists opposing Zijin Mining’s blasting operations near Majdanpek faced criminal charges, including causing property damage and inciting intolerance.

Despite these challenges, civil society continues to mobilise strategically. CSOs have launched public awareness campaigns, provided legal support to those targeted and built international solidarity networks. These actions are aimed at defending those under threat and preserving democratic space and environmental justice as central pillars of the energy transition.

Fundamental regulatory reform is essential. Governments in Eastern Europe and Central Asia should adopt just transition principles that promote shared prosperity, human rights due diligence and fair negotiations. They must ensure the inclusion of workers’ organisations and local and Indigenous communities throughout the entire project life cycle.

Authorities must guarantee transparency in the licensing and operation of mining projects, particularly when they use fast-tracked procedures. They must actively monitor corporate compliance with environmental and safety standards to prevent abuses and ensure accountability. Crucially, legal frameworks should recognise the right to sustainable development and a healthy environment, and the right to defend human rights, while committing to zero tolerance for attacks against environmental defenders. Finally, authorities must provide effective judicial and non-judicial remedies for victims of business-related abuses and implement strong anti-corruption measures.