“Human Shield” in Belgrade. Thousands of Serbs against Kushner's investment

Thousands of protesters formed a “human shield” on Tuesday around the General Staff headquarters in Belgrade, which was bombed in 1999, pledging to protect the building against its planned reconstruction into a luxury complex by the company of Jared Kushner, son-in-law of US President Donald Trump.

Demonstrators taking part in the protest, organized by student groups, drew a red line surrounding buildings in central Belgrade destroyed during NATO bombing. “It's a warning that we will all defend them together,” said one student. “We will be a living shield” – announced a protest participant, quoted by the Associated Press.

“Our demands are the abolition of the law regarding the General Staff complex and plot, invalidation unlawful decision of the government and restoring the status of a cultural asset to the headquarters of the General Staff. – said one of the students in a speech to the audience.

On Friday, the Serbian parliament adopted a law that is intended to accelerate the construction of a luxury hotel and office complex. According to the document, all procedures related to the implementation of the project are considered urgent. The justification, proposed by 110 MPs, stated that the Staff buildings were seriously damaged during the bombings and that their use was impossible. It was concluded that the project to revitalize the complex is in the interest of society and is important for the economic development of Serbia.

In May 2024, the Serbian government signed an agreement with Kushner's company for the revitalization of the General Staff complex, which includes a lease of the area for 99 years. The New York Times announced in March that investment – within which the construction of a hotel and office space is planned – is worth $500 million, and according to the proposed agreement, the Serbian state should receive 22 percent. profits.

Kushner's company also pledged to build a monument at the complex to commemorate all victims of NATO bombings. In 1999, Alliance planes bombed the General Staff building twice.

The project has been causing a lot of controversy in Serbia for months, and its opponents believe that the destroyed headquarters of the National Staff is a tribute to the victims of the bombings and a monument to modernist architecture from the Yugoslav era.

Jakub Bawołek (PAP)

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