The article discusses the controversy surrounding Culture Minister Nikola Selaković's actions regarding the General Staff complex in Belgrade.
- Selaković sought legal opinion on removing cultural status.
- The request was rejected by the Republic Secretariat for Legislation.
- Selaković forwarded the proposal to the government without required opinion.
- He faces charges of abuse of office related to the case.
- The decision to remove protection is under judicial review.
Radar weekly has published documents showing that Culture Minister Nikola Selaković twice asked the Republic Secretariat for Legislation in July 2024 for an opinion on removing protected cultural status from the General Staff complex in Belgrade. According to the report, the request was rejected by the secretariat’s director, Dejan Đurđević.
The weekly said Selaković then forwarded the proposal to the Government of Serbia without the required opinion from the secretariat, which it said he was legally obliged to obtain.
Selaković is the first defendant in the case over the removal of protected status from the General Staff buildings, a complex damaged in NATO’s 1999 bombing of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The Organized Crime Prosecutor’s Office has indicted him and three other officials on charges of abuse of office and falsification of official documents.
The disputed document later served as the basis for the government’s November 14, 2024 decision to remove cultural heritage protection from the complex, which includes the former General Staff and Defense Ministry buildings.
The case remains under judicial review and is one of the most closely watched legal disputes linked to state management of heritage property in central Belgrade. For background on related developments, see latest news.
Frequently asked questions
What did Nikola Selaković request?
He requested an opinion on removing the protected cultural status from the General Staff complex.
What was the outcome of Selaković's request?
The request was rejected by the director of the Republic Secretariat for Legislation.
What charges does Selaković face?
He faces charges of abuse of office and falsification of official documents.
What is the significance of the General Staff complex?
It is a cultural heritage site damaged during NATO's bombing in 1999.
Is the government's decision final?
No, the decision to remove cultural heritage protection is currently under judicial review.
