BELGRADE/NAIROBI – The Serbian government has officially sanctioned a controversial real estate project with a firm linked to Jared Kushner, son-in-law of former U.S. President Donald Trump, by passing a special law to fast-track the development of a protected Belgrade landmark. The move, which circumvents national heritage and planning regulations, has ignited fierce public protests and accusations of political favouritism.

The agreement, details of which were first published by the independent Serbian news magazine *Radar* and have not been disputed by the government, establishes a joint venture to transform the site of the former Yugoslav Army Headquarters. The iconic modernist buildings were damaged during the 1999 NATO bombing of Yugoslavia and are viewed by many Serbs as a memorial to the conflict.

Under the terms of the deal, which dates back to February 2024, Kushner's Atlantic Incubation Partners LLC will hold a 77.5% stake in the joint venture, with the Serbian state retaining 22.5%. The arrangement grants the developer a 99-year lease on the prime city-centre land at no cost, with an option to convert it to full ownership. The Serbian state is obligated to clear the site for construction by May 2026.

Bypassing Protections, Sparking Outrage

The project, valued at approximately $500 million, envisions a luxury complex featuring a hotel, high-end apartments, shops, and a museum. However, its path was obstructed because the complex, designed by renowned architect Nikola Dobrović, was a designated cultural monument. Progress on the scheme stalled in May 2025 after prosecutors launched an investigation into allegations that documents used to strip the site of its protected status were forged.

To overcome this legal hurdle, Serbia's parliament on Friday, 7 November 2025, passed a *lex specialis*, or special law, classifying the development as a “project of importance for the Republic of Serbia.” This law allows the government to bypass the standard regulatory controls that had halted the project. The vote passed 130-40 in the 250-member assembly.

The decision has been met with widespread condemnation from opposition politicians, architects, and the public. Thousands have participated in street protests in Belgrade, with some forming a human chain around the site, vowing to protect it. Critics argue the special law undermines Serbia's legal system and sacrifices a symbol of national history for private profit and political gain. Some protestors and opposition figures suggest the government of President Aleksandar Vučić is attempting to curry favour with Donald Trump.

A Global Trend with Local Kenyan Echoes

While no direct Kenyan interests are involved in the Belgrade deal, the controversy highlights a global pattern that is highly relevant to Kenya and the East Africa region. The debate over the use of public and protected land for large-scale, foreign-backed commercial projects is a familiar one in Nairobi.

Recent controversies in Kenya, such as the proposed construction of a road through the protected Aberdare Forest and development projects in Nairobi's Ngong Forest, mirror the Serbian situation. In both countries, governments have justified such projects on the grounds of national economic importance, while conservationists and community groups raise alarms about environmental degradation, lack of public participation, and the erosion of protected spaces.

Furthermore, the Serbian deal involves a politically exposed person, raising questions about transparency and influence that are central to governance debates in Kenya. The use of special legal instruments to fast-track developments, bypassing public consultation and environmental oversight, is a tactic that governance watchdogs in Kenya frequently caution against. Deals involving foreign entities for the use of community land, such as for carbon credit schemes, have also raised concerns about secrecy and inequitable benefit-sharing in Kenya.

The Belgrade project serves as a potent case study on the tensions between attracting foreign investment and safeguarding national heritage and public interest. As Kenya pursues its own ambitious development agenda, including the Vision 2030 plan, the events in Serbia offer a critical lesson on the importance of transparency, robust legal frameworks, and meaningful public consultation when dealing with national assets.