Serbia’s president has accused protesters opposing a lithium mining project in the Balkan country of engaging in Western-backed “hybrid” warfare against his government. President Aleksandar Vučić vowed to take legal action against those who blocked railway and road traffic during a massive protest in Belgrade. Despite warnings from officials, tens of thousands rallied against the mining project, leading to disruptions in the city.
Riot police eventually cleared the railway stations where protesters had blocked tracks, and the Interior Minister announced that 14 people were brought in for questioning. Vučić characterized the protests as an attempt to topple his government and compared the situation to the Maidan uprising in Ukraine. The rally followed weeks of demonstrations across Serbia against the lithium mining plan.
The government, seeking closer ties with the EU, had revived the mining project after initially scrapping it due to public pressure. While Vučić pledged to delay mining operations for two years, critics remain concerned about the environmental impact on the Jadar valley. The president also proposed a referendum on the issue, although environmentalists are skeptical due to alleged past election interference.
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