Thousands protested in Belgrade against Jared Kushner's luxury development plans on a former army headquarters, bombed during NATO's 1999 campaign. As the 26th anniversary of the bombing approaches, demonstrators argue the site should symbolize NATO aggression rather than serve profit-making ventures. Protesters, including students and professionals, demand the location be turned into a heritage site rather than leased for development. This protest reflects broader dissatisfaction with President Vucic's government amidst allegations of corruption and mismanagement, drawing parallels with past tragedies causing public outrage.
It is the 26th anniversary of the NATO bombing. And we protest because this building has been given to someone to make profit, said Ognjen Pjevac, a 20-year-old University of Belgrade student.
Protesters demanded that the site, comprised of two buildings designed by Serbian architect Nikola Dobrovic that were damaged by NATO's bombing of what was then Yugoslavia, be reinstated as a heritage site.
Serbia's architects, engineers and opposition parties have opposed the government's multimillion-dollar contract with Kushner, which includes a 99-year lease on the prime land in the heart of Belgrade.
The demonstration was the latest in a series of massive protests against the government of President Aleksandar Vucic, who has been in power for 12 years as prime minister or president.
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