Vučić accused of pushing heritage site revocation for Trump-Kushner tower project
Former Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić is alleged to have forced officials to remove protected status from a historic Belgrade building so a Trump-Kushner development could proceed, prompting indictments for abuse of office.
Aleksandar Vučić, while still president, allegedly pressured National Institute for Cultural Heritage director Dubravka Đukanović in February 2024 to withdraw the protected monument designation of Belgrade’s General Staff building, ignoring a law that requires expert assessment. A lease agreement surfaced showing Jared Kushner’s real-estate firm would occupy the land rent-free for 99 years, prompting public outcry and protests that the heritage site was being sold for a $500-million Trump-Kushner tower.
In May 2024 the Serbian government signed a contract to remove the site’s protection, after which finance minister Siniša Mali allegedly urged heritage officials to resign when they refused to comply. Subsequent investigations led to the indictment of Mali, culture minister Nikola Selaković and others for abuse of office, while the project was scrapped in December 2025. Vučić denied wrongdoing, accusing prosecutors of a coup, as the nation heads toward the 25 October elections.
Why it matters
The case highlights potential high-level corruption influencing cultural heritage and major foreign investment ahead of Serbia’s election.
How this story developed
- Oct 9 New pro-Russia Serbian party emerges ahead of parliamentary elections
- Oct 19 Serbian‑Russian Unity party was launched ahead of the early parliamentary election.
- Oct 22 Student activists met residents in Požarevac, hearing stories of joblessness while distributing campaign material.
- Oct 23 Tens of thousands to over a hundred thousand demonstrators assembled in Belgrade’s city centre ahead of the election.
In this story
Related stories
18 in this thread