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The nationalist populist Serbian president railed against critics of the project for destroying an investment of “at least €750 million” ($880 million).
“As a state and as a nation, we are major losers,” Vucic told media in Belgrade.
“We will now be left with a destroyed building, and it is only a matter of time before bricks and other parts start falling off it, because no one will ever touch it again.”
Serbia’s organized crime prosecutor this week published an indictment against Culture Minister Nikola Selakovic and three other officials for allegedly committing illegal acts by removing the General Staff building’s status as a "cultural asset,” which was required for construction to proceed.
The complex had been granted protected cultural heritage status in 2005.
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The investment firm Affinity Partners, linked to Kushner, [said] that he was backing away from the controversial hotel and real estate project after weeks of protests and following the indictment.
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It is a complete shitshow. The building was under government protection which they illegally tried to remove and let Kushner build a hotel. Even the prosecution has reacted, and is prosecuting the minister that did it. Vučić preemptively said he is going to pardon said minister. But what’s worse is that Kushner never even wanted that building in the first place, this was a sad attempt to try to suck up to Trump. Of course, it didn’t work, so now they have broken the constitution, still await sanctions from USA and haven’t even made a deal. Incompetence to the max.
Good.