Thousands protest in Serbia against lithium mine project

BELGRADE, Serbia

Thousands of demonstrators gathered in the center of the Serbian capital of Belgrade on Saturday to protest the opening of a lithium mine.

The protest was organized by associations on the day of the expiration of a 40-day deadline set for the government to adopt a law on the permanent ban on geological research and exploitation of lithium and boron in Serbia.

Organizers previously announced that blockades would be organized in several locations, without giving details.

The main requirement of the organizers is to prevent the adoption of the law.

"You won't dig" shouted protesters, who were repeatedly urged by organizers to remain calm and not fall for provocations.

"Yesterday, when I left, I said goodbye to my children, wife, and mother and said I will return, one way or another and I will not let you down,'' said the President of the “We Won’t Give Up Jadar” association, Zlatko Konakovic, in his address to the crowd.

Dragana Đorcevic, research assistant at the Institute of Chemistry, told the crowd that Serbia's mining rent is the lowest, labor is cheap, there is little concern for the environment, and those are the reasons why companies want to open mines in Serbia.

Later, thousands marched toward the Gazela bridge -- the most important bridge connecting two sides of the Sava River in Belgrade.

Environmentalists blocked streets in the city center leading to a highway, and blocked traffic on the Gazela bridge.

Kokanovic urged all organizations that have been protesting to organize blockades throughout Serbia.

Prime Minister Milos Vucevic later took to X to say the protesters only focused on threatening.

''For the umpteenth time, they have shown that they really care about the environment and people's health. Some, like a disbanded gang, go to block, they don't even know what, but it is important that they threaten the functioning of normal people. Others are preparing to, as they say, ‘dig up the biggest cancer in the Presidency building.’ Cowards and liars! Environmentalists who do not plant trees but dig crabs, and openly and monstrously threaten President (Aleksandar) Vucic with death. You won't scare him! And we will not allow you to endanger Serbia for the sake of personal interests, which are supported by (Kosovo Prime Minister Albin) Kurti, the Ustasha and the foreign service,'' said Vucevic. Ustasha is in reference to the Croatian fascist and ultranationalist organization.

Internal Minister Ivica Dacic said there was a serious violation of public order and peace and violations of the law during the protest.

Dacic said after the assembly the organizers acted contrary to everything they wrote in the public assembly report, disrupting public order and peace, and blocking international traffic, and endangering the security of citizens.

He added that criminal and misdemeanor charges will be filed against all perpetrators of criminal acts and misdemeanors.

Meanwhile, President Aleksandar Vucic is scheduled to address the nation Sunday.

The protest is the latest in a series of 50 demonstrations that began at the end of June.

Vucic said Friday that Russian intelligence warned him about preparations for a coup in Serbia with the support of Western powers.

Environmentalists have rallied against the project by Anglo-Australian multinational mining company, Rio Tinto.

Vucic said June 24 that he wanted Serbians to decide on the extraction of lithium mines and it was not a decision to be made immediately.

Serbians have been holding demonstrations at regular intervals for years to protest the project.

Rio Tinto discovered lithium mineral reserves in Loznica in 2004.

The chief public prosecutor of the Higher Public Prosecutor's Office in Belgrade, Nenad Stefanovic, warned that violence in the capital would not be tolerated and urged demonstrators to use their right to peaceful assembly under the Constitution and laws.

Minister of Internal Affairs Ivica Dacic also said violence would not be allowed, as well as attacks on state institutions and police.