"The site's protected status as a cultural asset was lifted last year, triggering an investigation into alleged document forgery and anger over perceived corruption. The student-led rally saw participants form a symbolic human chain around the ruins, which the government has leased for 99 years to Affinity Global Development, a company linked to US President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner."
"President Aleksandar Vucic's government last week passed a special law classifying the $500 million (431 million) project as "urgent" granting it expedited permits despite legal challenges. Critics call the complex an architectural monument and a symbol of Serbia's defiance against the US-led bombing campaign. They say replacing a bombed war relic with luxury towers would erase a painful part of national history still seen by many as unjust "aggression.""
Thousands of protesters in Belgrade rallied against plans to redevelop the bombed remains of the former Yugoslav Army headquarters. The site's protected cultural status was revoked last year, prompting an investigation into alleged document forgery and accusations of corruption. The government leased the plot for 99 years to Affinity Global Development, linked to Jared Kushner, and passed a special law fast-tracking the $500 million project as "urgent." Students formed a human chain and marked the area "untouchable." Critics say the complex is an architectural monument and symbol of defiance; prosecutors are probing whether the revocation was manipulated. The government frames the project as strengthening ties with Washington.
Read at www.dw.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]