A Call to Action

In a forceful social media post, Nikola Sandulović, who is widely viewed as a potential successor to Serbia’s presidency, sharply criticized past and present Serbian political leaders, arguing that “hope is not a tactic that defeats a criminal regime.”

Sandulović wrote: “Aleksandar Vučić’s criminal organization can only be defeated with experience, courage, and resolve—not hope.”

Roots of the Regime

He blames former Prime Minister Zoran Đinđić for a critical error nearly 25 years ago, accusing him of failing to dismantle the roots of authoritarianism by not banning parties such as SPS (Socialist Party of Serbia), JUL, and SRS, nor arresting their leaders. According to Sandulović, that inaction allowed figures like Ivica Dačić, Tomislav Nikolić, Aleksandar Vulin, Vučić, and Vojislav Šešelj to survive politically and continue exerting control over the state.

He describes the current moment as one of “open dictatorship,” that Serbia is now under direct threat from a regime that uses police violence, arrests, and repression against students, citizens, and children. He accuses Vojislav Šešelj of acting as a political mentor to Vučić, actively advising him on how to maintain power through force and criminality.

Sandulović also condemned former President Boris Tadić for rehabilitating Ivica Dačić, whom he derisively calls a “drunken tavern singer,” accusing Dačić of now commanding police forces that beat and arrest protesters while protecting criminal networks in uniform.

“Do Not Hope. Fight.”

“You were silent for too long, fearing for yourselves while ignoring the fate of your children,” Sandulović said, claiming the Serbian people have allowed war criminals and communist-era power structures from 1945 to remain in power.

He concludes: “Hope is for the weak—those waiting for others to solve their problems. Hope is for the fearful and the defeated. Do not hope. Fight—proportionally to the extent your right to life is being taken from you.”

Wildfires Rage Amid Unrest

Widespread wildfires have swept through southern and central Serbia, with the worst damage reported in the Toplica District, where entire villages have been evacuated and homes destroyed. Emergency services remain on high alert as officials assess the scale of the damage.

Local authorities say thousands have been displaced and dozens of homes have been reduced to ash, as fires continue to burn across rural areas. The Serbian government has not yet provided an official estimate of casualties or property loss.

Controversial Overlap with Lithium Mining Sites

The fires come amid growing national unrest over lithium mining plans by the British-Australian multinational Rio Tinto. Environmental groups and civil society activists have noted a striking overlap between the areas affected by fire and zones previously earmarked for lithium exploration.

Satellite images and internal maps reviewed by Rich TVX sources suggest that the current wildfire hotspots closely mirror regions designated for future mining development. The correlation has sparked speculation over potential land-clearing operations, though no official link has been established.

Vučić Under Scrutiny

The crisis places renewed scrutiny on Aleksandar Vučić, whose leadership has increasingly been described as authoritarian by opposition figures and international watchdogs. Critics accuse the Serbian leader of centralizing power, weakening democratic institutions, and suppressing dissent.

Speaking from his official residence, Vučić has not yet addressed the alleged connection between the fires and mining interests. A spokesperson for the government denied any wrongdoing, calling the fires “a result of extreme summer conditions and climate factors.”

However, civil society groups claim otherwise. “These are not just wildfires—this is political arson,” one activist told Rich TVX under condition of anonymity. “Entire communities are being erased under the pretext of natural disaster.”

Growing Public Concern

Public outrage is mounting, with mass protests expected in Belgrade and other major cities over the coming days. Demonstrators are demanding new elections, a moratorium on lithium mining, an independent investigation into the fires, and accountability from the Vučić government.

International observers, including the European Union and human rights organizations, are closely monitoring the situation. A spokesperson for Amnesty International said: “If these fires are being used to facilitate resource extraction, it would represent a grave violation of human rights.”