SERBIA’S SURPRISE NOVAK REVENGE
It isn’t tennis, but it appears Serbia has found another way to hit Australia where it hurts over the Novak Djokovic deportation saga.
AFP and Andrew Koubaridis
Serbia has abandoned plans to build a controversial lithium mine following weeks of protests against the project set to be built by Australian mining giant Rio Tinto.
The surprise U-turn from the government comes months ahead of likely national elections with President Aleksandar Vucic’s administration looking to shore up support from voters following a series of major protests that gained traction across large parts of the Balkan country.
It also comes days after Serbian Novak Djokovic had his visa cancelled in Australia and was booted out of the country. The Grand Slam champion was unvaccinated, and Immigration Minister Alex Hawke deported him amid concern Djokovic could provoke protests against Australia’s vaccine mandates.
The deportation stirred anti-Australian sentiment in Serbia, with President Vucic calling Prime Minister Scott Morrison to complain about the “witch hunt”.
