Serbia in turmoil: protests against Kushner's construction project in the heart of Belgrade!

Serbia in turmoil: protests against Kushner's construction project in the heart of Belgrade!

Belgrad, Serbien - on March 24, 2025, in Belgrade, thousands demonstrated against a controversial construction project initiated by Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of US President Donald Trump. The protest took place on the 26th anniversary of NATO air raids on Yugoslavia, which began in 1999 and caused many traumatic memories in the Serbs. The NATO bombardings were originally initiated to end the persecution of the Kosovo albanium by the Slobodan Milošević regime, but had far-reaching and tragic consequences that still have an impact.

The planned construction project includes the demolition of the General Staff building, which was bombed during the NATO air raid. For many Serbs, the ruin has historical value, as it reminds them of the civil sacrifices of the air strikes, which were pushed into the background after the fall of Milošević. In November 2024, the government under Aleksandar Vučić deprived the status of a monument, which further fueled the resistance of the demonstrators. Representatives of the protesters have already filed a lawsuit at the constitutional court, which has not yet decided.

background of the protests

Kushner's company, Affinity Global Development, has leased the location for 99 years. A luxury hotel, commercial space and more than 1,500 residential units as well as a memorial complex for the victims of the NATO bombing are planned. Many people in Serbia are critical of these projects and demand an honest examination of the past. Serbian victims are traditionally emphasized in the commemoration policy of Serbia, while the Kosovo-Albanian victims often remain unmentioned.

March 24 is not only an important date for the protesters, but also a symbol of the deep wounds that have left NATO bombs. These attacks carried out without UN mandate took place in a context of repeated violent conflicts in Yugoslavia and led to a humanitarian catastrophe in which hundreds of thousands of Kosovo albaniums were driven out. Many remember the events as part of a “David against Goliath” narrative that was propagated by the Serbian government to strengthen national feelings.

Since the tragic collapse of a station vordach in Novi Sad, in which 16 people died in November 2024, it has occurred almost daily in Serbia. The recent incident, in which a 19-year-old died in the military hospital in Belgrade, also mobilized the dissatisfied people. The demonstrators blame the state for the accidents and call for the publication of all relevant documents to renovate the station roof and to punish those responsible.

The social tensions in Serbia condense through this multitude of protests and the anger associated with the past. The commemoration policy, which often focuses on national stories, begins to interweave the current political challenges. Aleksandar Vučić, who has been a prime minister since 2014, uses memory practices from the Milošević era to strengthen national identity, which splits society and leads to massive protests against the authoritarian system.

The arguments about the construction project and the subsequent protests are not only a sign of displeasure about current political decisions, but also a testimony to the ongoing conflicts about the memory and identity of Serbia.