Belgrade University Vice-Rector: Protest in Valjevo Shows Most of Serbia’s Citizens Oppose Lithium Project

Ratko Ristic (BETAPHOTO/MILAN ILIC)

Professor Ratko Ristic, the vice-rector of the University of Belgrade, on July 23 said that the protest held in Valjevo, western Serbia, on July 22 had confirmed that a huge majority of Serbia’s citizens were against the government’s idea of turning Serbia into a giant mine.  

In the evening on July 22, the locals gathered at the Valjevo main square to protest against mining corporation Rio Tinto and the lithium mining and processing project in Serbia. 

“Kudos to several thousands of people who protested against the planned lithium exploitation project in the territory of Valjevo. Congratulations to the people of Valjevo who set an example of how all should be cherishing and defending their own cities, our country and tradition. I believe that the protest in Valjevo will only be the first in a series of massive rallies against the government’s horrendous plan to turn Serbia into a giant mine,” Ristic told BETA. 

Commenting on the report that the City Hall of Loznica, in which territory the lithium project is set for execution, is scheduled to convene on July 25 to, among other things, adopt a Spatial plan for the Jadar project, Ristic said that all government’s hasty decisions would be made void as they had been made against the Constitution and were illegitimate.  

Ristic offered his backing to the decision of the association We Won’t Give Jadar Up to organize a protest rally in Loznica on July 25.   

In the evening on July 22, Zlatko Kokanovic and Nebojsa Petkovic from We Won’t Give Jadar Up called on Loznica aldermen not to back the Spatial plan of the special purpose area for the Jadar project. They said that in case the plan was adopted, they would hold a protest on that day and called on other Serbia’s citizens to join them by blocking railways and roads across the country.