Forgery Claim Threatens Trump-Kushner Hotel in Serbia

Ethics concerns are swelling around Trump Organization projects in Europe and the Middle East, but a local official could bring down a luxury hotel project in Serbia.

Serbian officials say Goran Vasic, the acting director of the Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments, allegedly admitted to forging a document that allowed for the former Yugoslav Ministry of Defense headquarters in Belgrade to be demolished, the New York Times reported. The alleged fabrication of an expert opinion was the basis for stripping the site of cultural heritage status, putting in motion its replacement with the hotel.

Vasic has been charged with abuse of office and forgery of official documents.

The hotel is slated as a collaboration between the Trump Organization and Jared Kushner’s Affinity Partners, the first joint project between the two families. Kushner and his partners would lease the land for 99 years, according to a tentative agreement.

Critics of the development have been inflamed by the alleged forgery, claiming it reeks of a sweetheart deal for Kushner and Trump. Protesters opposing the development demonstrated as recently as two months ago.

Affinity Partners said in a statement it was not involved in the cultural status review and that it would review the situation before determining its next steps.

The $500 million development is sited on the Defense Ministry building bombed by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in 1999. The long-vacant site would be home to the first Trump International Hotel in Europe.

Donald Trump Jr. made several trips to Serbia in recent months to demonstrate support for President Aleksander Vucic, whose administration approved the hotel development.

The Trump Organization is also pursuing a $1 billion, 80-story Trump International Hotel and Tower in Dubai — where units are fetching prices up to $20 million — a Trump-branded golf course and luxury villa complex in Doha, Qatar; and Trump-branded properties planned for Saudi Arabia, Oman and another location in Dubai.

— Holden Walter-Warner