Serbians protest NATO site redevelopment

Thousands of protesters gathered in Belgrade to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the 1999 NATO bombing campaign while demonstrating against plans to develop a luxury compound at a historically significant site. The protest focused on two bombed buildings that formerly housed the Yugoslav People's Army headquarters, which the Serbian government has leased to Affinity Global Development, an investment firm established by Jared Kushner, former US President Donald Trump's son-in-law.

The Serbian government signed a 99-year lease agreement with Kushner's company last year, granting rights to redevelop the war-damaged structures into a luxury complex. Protesters, including architect Zivota Lazarevic, argued against the redevelopment, stating, "The messages are to build in other places, that not everything is for sale, even ruins have their own symbolism, have their own meaning."

Demonstration coincided with commemorations of the NATO bombing campaign that began on March 24, 1999, a 78-day operation intended to halt Slobodan Milosevic's crackdown against Albanians in Kosovo. Many Serbians continue to harbor deep resentment over these airstrikes, which caused significant casualties and destruction.

The protest is part of months-long anti-government rallies that have intensified after 16 deaths from a railway station roof collapse triggered widespread accusations of corruption and negligence. The movement has expanded to include students, teachers, and farmers, presenting a major challenge to President Aleksandar Vucic, who has held power as either prime minister or president for the past 12 years.

Critics of the redevelopment plan contend that the government's approval of the lease to Kushner's firm diminishes the site's historical significance and reflects broader concerns about corruption under Vucic's administration.