FLASH NEWS
"Pressure, resignation and criminal investigation"/ NYT: Trump family project stirs up Serbia
2025-06-10 13:44:22 / BOTA
Over the past year, the Trump family has been seen signing real estate deals around the world, often involving international governments and raising a host of ethical concerns.
But only one of them has led to a public criminal investigation into local officials. This came after a group of cultural preservationists in Serbia opposed the government and, as a result, the relatives of the American president.
The New York Times has published a detailed article on the matter, going into the details of the agreement and the investigation.
Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, has a deal with the Serbian government to build a half-billion-dollar hotel and apartment complex in downtown Belgrade. The project also includes the Trump Organization, which is run by the president's sons, Eric and Donald Jr., as the luxury hotel will bear the family's last name.
In November last year, just a week after Trump won the US presidential election, the Serbian government immediately removed the status of the General Staff, part of a military complex that was damaged by NATO bombing in 1999, as a protected cultural site. Six years later, it was declared a protected cultural asset.
The Trump family plans to build hotels and apartments in this area, along the street in central Belgrade where government institutions are located.
Architects and historians from the Republic Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments called the decision illegal and politically motivated. Some stated that they were pressured by intelligence services to stop opposing the project.
Seven months later, the Trump project has become a scandal in Serbia and an example of how far a government is willing to go to serve the financial interests of the president's family. At the same time, it highlights concerns that the family's business dealings have become even harder to separate from Trump's official decisions.
No one knows how far the investigation will go. But one question that has been raised publicly concerns Serbian Finance Minister Sinisa Mali, whether he pressured officials to support the project or resign. Mali has connections to the White House through Richard Grenell, the Trump ally who is in charge of special missions.
Trump has had his eye on the building since 2013, and the idea resurfaced during his first term as president. At the time, Grenell, who was handling relations between Serbia and Kosovo, urged Serbian leaders to consider developing the space through American investment.
After Trump lost the 2020 election, Grenell told Kushner to take over the project and acted as an early mediator in the meantime. In 2022 and 2023, Grenell met with Vučić, and in 2021, he posted a photo with Mali.
Afifinity Partners secured a 99-year concession for the space, which could be converted into property and Serbia would receive 22% of the profits. Following the deal, Kushner's legal team visited Serbia and the deal is under review.
The Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments opposed the change in protected status, and its director, Dubravka Djukanovic, said it should be public property. In June 2024, the finance minister pressured her and another official to support the project or resign. Shortly after, Djukanovic resigned.
In November 2024, the Serbian government revoked the status. The institute's director, Estela Zivkov, and staff called the move a serious violation of cultural heritage laws and protested in an official letter. Zivkov said that intelligence services called her at 7:30 a.m. on November 18 and told her they were expecting her at the institute.
In two subsequent phone calls, she was “strongly advised” to give up. Undeterred, she sent the letter, signed by 50 other officials, to the government and the Ministry of Culture.
Mali has not commented on the matter, citing an ongoing investigation. Kushner’s company, Affinity Partners, says the deal is being reviewed. Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić has downplayed the criminal investigation, saying “ there was no fraud of any kind.”
It is unclear whether the staff letter was what prompted the criminal investigation. The institute's director was temporarily detained for questioning and then charged with abuse of office in mid-May. He has yet to appear in court.
Ian Brekke, the lead attorney for Affinity Partners, Kushner's firm, flew to Belgrade immediately after the news broke, according to a source who spoke on condition of anonymity and described confidential business matters. Serbian officials have told him it was simply an administrative error, but Kushner's team is assessing the situation.
Meanwhile, the prosecutor's investigation has progressed. Zivkov said he was interviewed in late May. According to the prosecutor's office, there are 34 more names on the list for questioning.
Happening now...
America may withdraw from Europe, but not from SPAK
Nga Gentian Gaba
ideas
Who is the Surrel Rabbit?
Nga Sidi Hasanaj
The two wrong paths of the opposition with the Ombudsman
Nga Patrik Sadikaj
top
Alfa recipes
TRENDING 
services
- POLICE129
- STREET POLICE126
- AMBULANCE112
- FIREFIGHTER128