Environmental Protests Held in Serbia on Dec. 18

Environmental Protests (BETAPHOTO/MILAN TIMOTIC/EV)

Several hundred people assembled in front of the Serbian government headquarters in Belgrade on Dec. 18 in a protest called by the Green Uprising movement against the Anglo-Australian Rio Tinto's plans to open a lithium mine in the Jadar area in Serbia.

Protesters carried Green Uprising banners and signs reading "Unions at the roadblocks," "How many zeros are there in treason?" and "Tell the truth, state."

The Green Uprising is demanding the annulment of all legal documents, licenses and decisions signed with Rio Tinto, which the movement believes will formally and legally "expel" the company from the country. They are also seeking the halting of all criminal and misdemeanor proceedings against citizens who participated in traffic blocks in recent weeks, and the processing of "all of the thugs who used violence against the protesters, at the Sabac Bridge and elsewhere."

Protests were held in other cities, as well. Mass blockades of traffic arteries took place at over 50 sites in Serbia over the last month due to widespread dissatisfaction with Rio Tinto's Jadar project and controversial laws on expropriation and referendum. After their withdrawal, some of the organizers dropped out of the protests.