BREAKING: Serbian Prosecutors Charge Minister, Officials in Sweeping Corruption Probe Linked to Controversial Kushner Real Estate Deal

Sweeping Organized Crime Indictment Shakes Belgrade

BELGRADE, SERBIA — In a dramatic move that links alleged state corruption directly to a high-profile international real estate venture, Serbian organized crime prosecutors have filed sweeping indictments against a sitting cabinet minister and several former high-ranking officials. The charges center on the illegal transfer of a prime piece of Belgrade real estate—a site that recently gained massive international attention as the target of a major proposed development led by Jared Kushner’s investment firm, Affinity Partners.

This breaking development represents one of the most significant anti-corruption actions against political elites in Serbia’s recent history, placing intense scrutiny on the opaque nature of massive state property sales. The focus of the indictment is the former Yugoslav Ministry of Defense headquarters, a historic complex severely damaged by NATO bombing in 1999, located on some of the capital's most valuable land.

Charges of Abuse of Office and Illegal Enrichment

The Organized Crime Prosecutor's Office confirmed Monday that the unnamed minister, alongside several former government secretaries and officials from the Ministry of Defense, face charges of "abuse of official position" and illicit enrichment spanning years.

According to documents reviewed by this outlet, prosecutors allege that the officials conspired to illegally remove the property from military ownership and transfer it to a state-run private company at a massively undervalued rate. This complex legal maneuver, which allegedly occurred between 2009 and 2015, effectively cleared the path for future private development while circumventing public tender procedures and costing the Serbian state millions of dollars.

While the indictment focuses on Serbian officials, the timing is impossible to ignore. The investigation highlights the years of alleged maneuvering that preceded the property’s current status—a status that made it ripe for the kind of mega-project recently proposed by Mr. Kushner’s firm.

The Kushner Connection and Real Estate Scandal

The former Ministry of Defense site, known locally as the Generalštab building, has been the subject of fierce domestic controversy. Critics have long argued that the government intended to give away the land to private investors under questionable circumstances.

That controversy intensified earlier this year when reports revealed that Jared Kushner, former President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, was finalizing a deal through his Miami-based Affinity Partners to transform the ruined complex into a luxury residential tower and a five-star hotel.

While Kushner’s firm has not been accused of wrongdoing in the indictment, the timing underscores the deep political risk associated with securing prime Serbian property. The prosecution is investigating the initial, allegedly corrupt, transfer of the land—a process that ultimately dictated the low cost and favorable conditions offered to potential foreign developers. The indictment serves as a clear signal that the Serbian judicial system, often criticized for being slow to prosecute high-level corruption, is now actively reviewing the foundation of major public-private deals.

Political Fallout and International Scrutiny

This indictment places the government of Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić in a difficult position. Vučić has repeatedly vowed to tackle organized crime and systemic corruption, key demands made by the European Union as Serbia pursues membership.

Legal experts suggest that if the Minister is convicted, it will be a major victory for judicial independence, but it simultaneously exposes the fragile nature of Serbian governance and regulatory oversight. The development puts pressure on Affinity Partners to reassess the legal risks and public perception of the project, which is now inextricably linked to a sprawling Serbian corruption scandal.

The prosecution team has yet to announce a trial date, but sources close to the judiciary indicate the case will move forward rapidly given the public and geopolitical sensitivity surrounding the charges and the prominent US-linked investment project. The world will be watching Belgrade closely as this critical test of its anti-corruption resolve unfolds.