Vucic says Russia warned him of coup plans in Serbia – Euractiv

Tens of thousands of people gathered in central Belgrade on Saturday (August 10) to demand a halt to Rio Tinto’s lithium project in western Serbia because they feared it could contaminate nearby land and water.

Protesters packed the streets leading to Trazije Square, waving Serbian flags and chanting “You won’t dig” and “Rio Tinto, leave Serbia!”

Government officials say the protests are politically motivated and aimed at overthrowing President Aleksandar Vucic and his government.

Protest leader Zlatko Kokanović, a farmer from the Jadar region where mining is planned, called on protesters to block Belgrade’s two main train stations.

Last month, Serbia reinstated Rio Tinto’s license for a lithium mine that would be Europe’s largest, two years after the previous government halted the process over concerns from environmental groups.

The decision sparked protests in towns and cities across Serbia, with protesters demanding the government impose a ban on lithium exploration and mining that expires on Saturday.

“We will not give up. The mine cannot be built on agricultural land,” said worker Mica Miliovanović, 63. “This has nothing to do with politics.”

On Friday, Vucic said authorities had received Russian intelligence that a coup was being planned in Serbia.

“We have reason to be cautious,” Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vulin told the Tanjug news agency on Saturday.

Once implemented, the $2.4 billion Jadar lithium project will be able to meet 90% of Europe’s current lithium demand and make Rio Tinto one of the world’s leading lithium producers.

Lithium is a key ingredient in batteries for electric vehicles and mobile devices.

Government officials say lithium mining will boost Serbia’s economy, but environmentalists say the price of lithium is too high.

On July 19, Vucic, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and European Union Energy Commissioner Maroš Šefčović signed a deal that will allow producers in EU member states to use raw materials mined in Serbia, including lithium.

EU and Serbia to sign “critical raw materials” agreement

The European Union and Serbia are due to sign a deal on battery material supplies at a “critical raw materials summit” on Friday (July 19), just days after Belgrade allowed a controversial lithium mining project to resume.

The deal aims to reduce the EU’s reliance on imports from the United States and Asia.

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