On Monday, thousands gathered in Belgrade to commemorate the NATO bombing campaign of 1999 and to voice their opposition to a luxury development project initiated by an investment firm established by Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump.
In recent months, Serbia has experienced a wave of anti-government protests sparked by the tragic collapse of a railway station roof that resulted in 16 fatalities, leading to allegations of widespread corruption and negligence.
These demonstrations have attracted a diverse group of participants, including students, teachers, and farmers, posing a significant challenge to President Aleksandar Vucic, who has held power for 12 years as either prime minister or president.
The protest on Monday was organized by students from Belgrade State University, who have been staging class blockades since early December and have been at the forefront of anti-government protests for the past four months.
Ognjen Pjevac, a 20-year-old student, attended the protest in front of the former military headquarters, which was leased last year to Kushner’s U.S.-based investment firm, Affinity Partners, by Serbian officials.
“This marks the 26th anniversary of the NATO bombing. We are protesting because this building has been handed over for profit,” Pjevac stated. “It should remain as a testament to NATO’s aggression.”
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The two structures were damaged during the NATO bombing of what was then Yugoslavia, which included Serbia and Montenegro, aimed at stopping the violence against ethnic Albanians during a police counter-insurgency.
Designed by Serbian architect Nikola Dobrovic, the buildings were constructed between 1957 and 1965, with a design inspired by the canyon of the Sutjeska River in Eastern Bosnia, the site of a significant World War II battle in 1943.
“These buildings should have been preserved as a protected cultural monument,” remarked Predrag Janjic, 61, one of the protesters, in a statement to Reuters.