Environmental Uprising leader and MP Aleksandar “Cuta” Jovanovic called on the citizens to assemble in large numbers on August 10 in Belgrade to protest Rio Tinto's lithium mining Jadar Project, and urged the police to stand with the people in the event of a statewide blockade.

“Let’s gather in as large numbers as possible in Belgrade on August 10 and clearly outline our plan to the public. That plan must be for all of Serbia to come to a standstill, so we’ll see how they’ll react when we again block all of Serbia and its roadways. Will they direct the police to use brutal force?” Jovanovic told the FoNet news agency.

Jovanovic urged the police to carefully think about whether they will stand with the people or side with Rio Tinto, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, during whose recent visit to Belgrade Serbia and the European Union (EU) signed a Memorandum of Understanding on strategic raw materials.