Serbia's president has accused demonstrators opposing a lithium mining project in the Balkan country of being part of a Western-backed 'hybrid' warfare against his government. Tens of thousands took to the streets in Belgrade to protest the mining project, despite warnings from officials about an alleged plot to unseat President Aleksandar Vucic.
Some protesters blocked railway tracks and briefly stopped traffic on a major highway, leading to police intervention. The Interior Minister stated that 14 people have been brought in for questioning, with more perpetrators to be identified and charged.
President Vucic labeled the blockage of traffic as 'terror of the minority over the majority' and claimed it was part of a hybrid approach to topple the government. He mentioned being tipped off by Russian intelligence about a potential coup orchestrated by Western powers.
The protests stem from a government plan to allow lithium mining in a farming valley, which was initially scrapped in 2022 but revived recently. The plan received support through a deal with the European Union on critical raw materials, aiming to reduce Europe's dependency on China for lithium batteries and electric cars.
While the government sees the mine as an economic opportunity, critics argue it would cause irreparable pollution to the Jadar valley's water reserves and farming land. President Vucic announced a two-year halt on lithium mining for further risk assessment and offered a referendum on the issue, though environmentalists remain skeptical due to concerns about fair voting practices.
