Serbia’s populist president says lithium protests are part of a ‘hybrid’ warfare against his country
Associated Press
Serbia: Tens of Thousands Protest Lithium Mining Project
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Above: Picture from an earlier demonstration in Belgrade, Serbia, when thousands of environmental protesters blocked roads in Belgrade and other Serbian towns over Rio Tinto's lithium extraction plans on December 4, 2021. Image copyright: Martyn Aim/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Facts
Tens of thousands of protesters went through Belgrade, Serbia on Saturday to protest plans to mine the Jadar Valley, one of Europe's largest lithium deposits, citing concerns over potential ecological damage.
This is reminiscent of protests that successfully stopped the plan to mine lithium two years ago, and comes as a tentative deal with the EU on "critical raw materials" last month revived mining plans in Serbia.
The Spin
Establishment-critical narrative
The government has ignored the advice of both scientists and mining specialists in pushing forward with this project. The mine will contaminate the water, land, air, and people with toxic substances, and affect not only Serbia, but also neighboring countries. Serbians must keep protesting to protect their land and the environment.
Pro-establishment narrative
This project is as good for Serbia as it is for the EU. The planned lithium mine is set to provide Europe with critical raw materials, reducing its dependence on Chinese imports for mobile phones and EV batteries, while attracting a substantial amount of foreign investment for Serbia and promoting job creation in the country.
