A major project of Kushner and Trump in Serbia is complicated by suspected fraud

In Serbia, the news of the arrest echoed Goran Vasicformer head of the Serbian Republican Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments. As a message from the Serbian Prosecutor’s Office for Organized Crime, Vasic is suspected of counterfeiting documents, with which made it possible to build a large residential complex and hotel in Belgrade.

The subscriber of the controversial project is the Affinity Global Development Investment Company, which is managed Jared Kushner, a son -in -law of US president Donald Trump. A $ 500 million project (about $ 449 million) and named Trump’s Belgrade Tower (Trump Tower Belgrade) should grew up in an extremely sensitive location – at the site of the former Yugoslav Army Generala building that was once protected as a cultural heritage and bears deep symbolic significance for many Serbs.

According to the prosecution, summarized by a news agency SeenewsVasic is supposed to fake signatures on the proposal to withdraw the protected status of the General Staff. This document was then sent to the Government, which made a decision last November to withdraw the General Staff from the register of immovable cultural goods and deprived him of the status of cultural heritage.

The building of the General Staff, badly damaged during the NATO bombing of the former Yugoslavia in 1999, was long untouched due to its status of cultural heritage for any major construction work. But in May last year, as stated Seenewsthe Serbian Ministry of Infrastructure with the Affinity Global Investment Company signed a 99-year lease for « revitalization » of the General Staff complex.

Newspaper New York Times He reports that the head of the Serbian Agency for the Protection of Cultural Monuments even acknowledged to the authorities that he had falsified a government document. This fake document, which is supposed to contain a false expert opinion, served as a legal basis for eliminating the protection of the complex and allowed for further steps towards the demolition of the former headquarters of the Yugoslav Defense Ministry and its replacement with the Trump Hotel.

« Vasic falsified a proposal for a decision to withdraw the status of a cultural monument, » the Prosecutor’s Office for Organized Crime wrote in a statement, adding that « Goran Vasic caused damage to the cultural heritage of the Republic of Serbia. » Federation of official documents, said Belgrade this week.

Investment company Jareda Kushner, Affinity Partners, denied in a press release any role in verifying the cultural status of the location. « Today, we have learned from media reports that a former Serbian governmental officer who is not related to our company is expected to fake documents regarding the historical label of the Belgrade Square project, » they wrote.

They added that they would look at the matter and decide on the next steps. According to them, the location work has not yet begun, and the fate of the project has become much less clear due to the latest revelations. Affinity Global Development in the project collaborates with the Trump Organization, owned by Donald Trump, and with the Eagle Hills real estate investment company, owned by a businessman from the United Arab Emirates Mohammed or Alabar. After reporting Seenews have planned to start the pre -sale of units in the complex this summer.

Affinity Global Development collaborates with the Trump Organization conglomerate, owned by Donald Trump, and with the real estate investment company Eagle Hills, owned by a businessman from the United Arab Emirates Mohammed or Alabar. Photo: Jonathan Ernst/Reuters

The planned project, which is supposed to include a luxury hotel, a residential complex with 1500 units and a museum, has been launching a wave of outrage and protests in Serbia. In March this year, on the twenty -sixth anniversary of NATO’s bombing, thousands of people gathered before the General Staff complex who protested against the planned construction.

Opposition leaders in the Serbian Parliament cite the recognition of a counterfeit document as proof that the families Trump and Kushner have secured a special agreement with the influence. « All this happened to make room for Trump’s, » he is for New York Times saying Dragan Jonica Member who helped lead protests against the project. The land at the location of the former General Staff is expected to be rented for 99 years under the terms of the framework agreement Kushner and his partners.

It is envisaged that this will be the first joint project of Kushner and Trump families. « Serbia is one of the fastest growing countries in Europe and we are extremely honored to be there, » said in an interview in January New York Timessaid Eric Trumpson of the US president, adding that it would be « fun to combine the family. »

Ethics experts point out that the involvement of foreign governments in such real estate and cryptocurrency business creates the appearance of corruption or at least special hearing for the president’s family. Photo: Djorddje Kojadinovic/Reuters

Donald Trump youngerthe eldest son of President Trump, has visited Serbia twice in recent months to prove support for the president Alexander Vucicwhose administration has acted quickly to approve the Kushner and Trump hotel project. These visits are supposed to help strengthen Vucic’s position among protests calling for his resignation.

Serbian Finance Minister Sinisa little told reporters on Thursday that the investigation into the withdrawal of the status of cultural heritage is underway. « I cannot comment on something that is currently the responsibility of the prosecution, » Mali said. « We will find out what happened and how. »

The project in Serbia is just one of the more recent Trump family business that includes foreign governments and raise questions about ethics and possible conflict of interest. Among others, as it says New York Timesa two -million commitment of the United Arab Emirates to the Trump’s family business for cryptocurrencies and luxury real estate projects in Qatar and Oman.

Independent He mentions that the current situation in Belgrade arises at a time when Trump is facing increasing criticism about the spread of his business empire while performing presidential function, saying a recent trip to the Middle East, overshadowed by ethical concerns about the acceptance of $ 400 million worth of Boeing aircraft as a gift from the Katar royal family.

Ethics experts, including those who served in the White House, both Republican and Democratic administration, point out that the involvement of foreign governments in such real estate and cryptocurrency transactions creates the appearance of corruption or at least special hearing for the president’s family. « It creates an impression, if not the reality that the foreign policy of the United States is influenced by the business interests of the President and his family, » he is for New York Times saying Richard Paintwho was the head lawyer of the White House for Ethics during the president George W. Bush.

« It is extremely dangerous to have a president with extensive business interests around the world. »