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[Text/Guocha.com Zhang Jingjuan] Protests against lithium mining in Serbia have been going on for weeks. According to Russian News Agency, the next large-scale protest is expected to be held in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, on the 10th.

According to reports from Serbia's Politika and Serbia's National Radio and Television (PTC), on August 9 local time, Serbian President Vucic said that he had received information from Russia that someone was planning large-scale riots and a coup in Serbia.

"We have received information from Russia, which was delivered through official channels. We are dealing with it," Vucic told reporters.

He said that citizens do not need to worry about this, and those who fantasize about solving the problem with force will not succeed, because Serbia is moving forward and is unstoppable. "This is the confidence I want to convey to everyone, don't worry. Tomorrow you can still watch our basketball players (performance at the Paris Olympics) at home safely."

The report said that according to Russian intelligence agencies, the relevant activities have received active support from multiple Western intelligence agencies.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zakharova said that analysis shows that some "evil forces" are taking advantage of the issue of lithium mining and, in the name of protecting the environment, are trying to discredit the legally elected government, launch subversive actions and undermine Serbia's national stability. Their goal is to escalate the situation and get it out of control.

Screenshot of Serbian President Vucic's video speech on social media

On the evening of the 8th, Vucic released a video speech, in which he said that the Serbian government would not change because of protests and violence. "In Serbia, the government is elected. Some people fantasize about changing things through violence, which is impossible."

He said that despite some threats against him personally, "Serbia is where he grew up and he will never leave."

"I will fight alongside you, fight to the end to build a modern Serbia, and never surrender," Vucic said.

Screenshot of video of protests breaking out in many places in Serbia

According to the Serbian National Radio and Television, Serbian Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Dacic said on the 9th that four suspects who planned to create violence and chaos and attack the police during the protest on the 10th had been arrested. He called on all participants to abide by the constitution and laws, "People have the right to hold peaceful assemblies, but violence is not allowed, endangering the personal and property safety of others is not allowed, endangering national security, etc. Any violators will be punished."

He added that Serbia's Interior Ministry police will record and photograph public gatherings and their participants.

Dacic had previously strongly condemned the protests, saying that the demonstrations had nothing to do with environmental protection and that their purpose was to seize power by force and threaten the Serbian president.

Serbia's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Internal Affairs Dacic PTC

The recent protests were triggered by the resumption of a lithium mining project in western Serbia, which had been delayed earlier due to protests by surrounding residents over environmental issues.

The deposit was discovered in 2004 in the Jadar River region near the town of Loznica in western Serbia. Experts estimate that the deposit could contain up to 10% of the world's proven lithium reserves. The deposit was discovered by geologists of Rio Tinto, one of the largest multinational mining and metallurgical companies, which announced in July plans to invest $2.4 billion to mine the mineral and produce lithium from it.

In November 2021, Belgrade residents protested against Rio Tinto's development of the Jadar lithium mine due to concerns about environmental issues. Due to protests by environmentalists, the Serbian government has repeatedly stated that it will only allow Rio Tinto to mine lithium after a referendum. In December of the same year, the Serbian president and government withdrew from parliament to complete the review of the expropriation bill and proposed amendments to the referendum law. Parliament then passed the amendment with a majority of 193 votes (out of 250 members) of the ruling coalition.

Under pressure, the Serbian government revoked Rio Tinto's lithium mining project's mining license in January 2022, but protests still exist.

The deposit is located in the Jadar River region near the town of Loznica in western Serbia essa news

Two years after the project was canceled, the Serbian government is ready to give Rio Tinto the green light. In June this year, Vucic told the Financial Times that Rio Tinto and the European Union would provide new solutions for the mining of lithium in Jadar in western Serbia.

If all goes well, the mine could be operational by 2028 and would be expected to produce 58,000 tonnes of lithium a year, he said at the time.

On June 28, residents of the western Serbian town of Loznica held another demonstration, continuing to protest against the restart of the lithium mining project.

Despite this, the Serbian Constitutional Court ruled on July 12 this year that the government's decision to revoke Rio Tinto Group's mining license violated the Constitution, the Government Law and the Environmental Impact Assessment Law, and ultimately approved the lithium mining project.

On July 19, Vucic, German Chancellor Scholz and European Commission Executive Vice President Šefčović signed a memorandum of understanding in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. According to the agreement, the European automotive industry will obtain the right to use the Jadar lithium mine in western Serbia and entrust Rio Tinto Group to mine it. Auto giants such as Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz and Stellantis will have the right of first refusal.

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