Lawyers claim that potential Rio Tinto lawsuit against Serbia could be good news
Legal experts are analyzing a claim by an opposition politician that Rio Tinto may sue Serbia over the Jadar project, suggesting it could benefit Serbia.Summary
Opposition politician Dragan Djilas announced that Rio Tinto is preparing a compensation claim against Serbia regarding the Jadar project. Legal experts are skeptical of the claim's specifics, noting the lack of public information about the potential lawsuit. Mirjana Vukajlovic, a lawyer representing an environmental organization opposing the mine, stated that if a claim is indeed prepared, details like the amount and recipient should be known, and the contractual jurisdiction for dispute resolution would be crucial. She believes a peaceful resolution is more likely, with Rio Tinto potentially transferring rights rather than pursuing costly legal battles.
Sreten Djordjevic, another lawyer involved in opposing the Jadar project, views Djilas’ announcement as politically motivated but considers the possibility of Rio Tinto leaving Serbia as potentially positive news. He argues that Serbia could succeed in a dispute due to Rio Tinto’s alleged violations of Serbian regulations, particularly concerning agricultural land protection and mining waste management. Both lawyers suggest that a lawsuit, if it proceeds, could ultimately be advantageous for Serbia.
(Source：N1)