Nikola Selaković Indicted Over Belgrade NATO-Bombed Military HQ Redevelopment

Prosecutors say Serbia’s culture leadership illegally altered protections at a major Belgrade landmark, affecting heritage safeguards and a high-profile redevelopment plan. 

Serbia’s Public Prosecutor’s Office for Organised Crime has indicted Culture Minister Nikola Selaković and three other officials over the removal of protected cultural status from the former Yugoslav Army General Staff complex in central Belgrade.

The indictment became public on December 15, 2025, and concerns actions taken within national and city-level heritage institutions related to the bomb-damaged complex on Kneza Miloša Street, one of the capital’s most prominent government corridors.

The development matters because cultural heritage status determines whether demolition or major construction can legally proceed.

The case has surfaced amid heightened scrutiny of how Serbia balances heritage protection with large-scale investment projects, particularly after parliament adopted a special law in November governing redevelopment of the site.

The dispute raises broader public-interest questions about transparency, institutional independence, and compliance with statutory heritage procedures.

Prosecutors Detail Alleged Misuse of Authority

The indictment names Selaković, Ministry of Culture secretary Slavica Jelaca, acting director of the national Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments Goran Vasić, and acting director of the Belgrade City Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments Aleksandar Ivanović.

Prosecutors allege abuse of official position and the creation or use of an unlawful official document.

Under Serbian law, decisions affecting protected cultural property must follow a formal process led by professional heritage bodies and reflected in official registers.

Prosecutors say those steps were bypassed or improperly documented in this case.

The General Staff complex, designed by architect Nikola Dobrović and completed in the 1950s, has long been recognised for its architectural and historical significance, particularly following damage sustained during NATO airstrikes in 1999.

Statements From Officials and Political Leaders

Selaković has denied any criminal wrongdoing following questioning by prosecutors earlier this month.

Other accused officials have given differing accounts during the investigation, including denials of intent and acknowledgements of procedural involvement.

President Aleksandar Vučić has publicly stated that he plans to issue pardons in connection with the case, saying he bears political responsibility for encouraging major investment at the site.

Under Serbia’s constitution, presidential pardons are possible only after judicial decisions and do not prevent courts from reviewing indictments.

The case has prompted reactions from civic groups, architects, and heritage advocates, many of whom have criticised the use of special legislation and warned of long-term damage to Serbia’s cultural protection system.

What the Dispute Means for the Public and the Project

For residents and visitors, the immediate impact is that the former General Staff complex remains legally protected, which blocks demolition or major redevelopment unless its status is changed through a lawful process.

The site sits near key ministries and embassies, making its future highly visible in Belgrade’s city centre and a focal point for public debate.

Parliament’s adoption of a lex specialis in November to govern redevelopment has added to that debate.

While the government says special laws can speed up large investments, critics argue they reduce normal oversight and limit public or professional input. Similar approaches in past projects have produced faster development but also long-running disputes.

Public reporting has linked the project to a foreign-backed investment of about $500 million, with plans for a mixed-use complex under a long-term lease.

However, until heritage registers are formally updated, construction approvals remain legally constrained.

Court and Administrative Next Steps

A court must first decide whether to confirm the indictment, which is required before any trial can begin. Until judges approve the charges, the case remains in a preliminary judicial phase.

Any change to the former General Staff complex’s cultural status would also require a new, lawful decision by heritage authorities and formal updates to official registers.

Administrative decisions related to redevelopment remain limited while legal proceedings continue.

Beyond the individuals named, the case puts Serbia’s cultural protection system under scrutiny as it faces pressure from politically supported, high-value development projects.