Belgrade erupts: Thousands rally against lithium mining plans
Thousands of people took to the streets of Belgrade on Saturday to protest the plan to open a lithium mine in Serbia. "This is an environmental protest, but also a political one, driven by a complete lack of trust in our authorities," said Milosz, a demonstration participant, to PAP.
11 August 2024 08:33
Serbia's Interior Minister Ivica Dačić, citing police data, reported that between 24,000 and 27,000 people participated in Saturday's protest in Belgrade against lithium exploitation. Some of them blocked the tracks at two major railway stations in the capital.
The protest was organized on the day the government's 40-day deadline to pass a law permanently banning geological research and the exploitation of lithium and boron in Serbia expired.
Thousands of participants gathered at 1 PM Eastern Time in Belgrade's central square, from where they started marching towards the busiest bridge over the Sava River. The organizers called on the protesters to block the bridge.
Serbians have had enough
"There's no turning back, we will defend Serbia," emphasized activist Zlatko Kokanović, calling on the gathered to protest peacefully.
"I am here because I am tired of lies and manipulation by the authorities. Three years ago, I protested against the same thing, and we were promised then that the issue was settled. Today, I have to take to the streets once again because we have been lied to again," explained 35-year-old Milosz.
"I don't believe in assurances that anyone will care for our health, our country, or the environment. They tell us that the whole country will benefit, but only the elites will get richer, and the people, as usual, will bear the consequences," emphasized 25-year-old Jovana.
The protest featured numerous banners, including "Stop Rio Tinto" and "No to Mining and Exploitation." Participants continuously shouted accusations of betrayal directed at the Serbian authorities.
The march proceeded peacefully, although a small "counter-protest" gathered nearby, with participants carrying Serbian and Russian flags and wooden Orthodox crosses.
The highest authorities in the country accused the organizers of wanting to forcibly remove the government before the protest. President Aleksandar Vučić announced that he had received information from Russian services about a planned coup d'état in Serbia. Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vulin compared the demonstrations to colour revolutions, accusing "western services" of organizing them, according to Serbian media.
Outrage in the Balkans. "The government declared war on the nation"
Saturday's protest in Belgrade was preceded by demonstrations organized over the past two weeks in many cities across Serbia. They were sparked by the government's decision to revive the Jadar project, which would see international corporation Rio Tinto start exploiting Serbia's lithium deposits. The project was halted in early 2022 following mass social protests.
On July 19, a memorandum of understanding was signed in Belgrade between the EU and Serbia regarding a strategic partnership for sustainable raw materials, battery production chains, and electric vehicles. Vučić announced that Serbia could start metal extraction in 2028. This decision sparked massive opposition. "The government has declared war on its people," said opposition MP Aleksandar Jovanović Ćuta.
The deposits located in western Serbia are considered some of the largest in Europe.
