Protests against lithium mining in Serbia: Officials speak of a conspiracy against the president

Tens of thousands of people demonstrated in Serbia on Saturday against lithium mining in the country. Meanwhile, government officials say they are allegedly planning to overthrow President Aleksandar Vucic and his government, AP reported. UNN writes.

Details

It is noted that Vucic had previously said that Russian intelligence had allegedly passed on to him information that Western powers were preparing “mass unrest and a coup” in Serbia to remove him from power.

Participants in the rally in central Belgrade chanted: “There will be no mining” and “Treason, treason”.

After the demonstration, some people went to the capital's two main train stations and promised to block train traffic until their demands for an official ban on lithium mining were met.

Government officials and state-controlled media launched a major campaign against the rally, comparing it to the events on Kyiv's Maidan. Meanwhile, the protest's organizers claimed it would be peaceful.

Our rally today is ecological in nature and has no political ambitions, but the authorities have accused us of trying to carry out a coup. We have come here today to raise our voices against something that goes beyond politics.

The demonstration came after weeks of protests in dozens of cities across Serbia against government plans to allow lithium mining in a green agricultural valley in the west of the country.

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