The Serbian government greenlights controversial real estate project linked to former President Trump

Serbia's parliament has passed legislation that clears the path for a disputed property project led by former President Trump's family member Jared Kushner in Serbia's capital city.

Kushner's company Affinity Partners has aimed to develop a premium hospitality venue and apartment development on the location of the previous Yugoslav Army central command.

The damaged edifice, which was struck by North Atlantic Treaty Organization forces in 1999 during its operation to end the Serbian military operation in Kosovo, holds significant meaning to some who view it as a monument and emblem of persistent objection to the international coalition.

Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic, who has maintained close ties with the former president, has backed the development notwithstanding protests and judicial disputes.

Last year, the national government stripped the property of its protected designation and agreed a 99-year lease with the developer's firm, which had proposed plans for a $500m project.

The decision provoked protests and resulted in an inquiry into whether a national official had falsified records utilized in the procedure to alter the property's status.

In a conversation recently, President Aleksandar Vucic justified the plan, stating "it's important to overcome the legacy from 1999".

He added: "We are willing to establish better connections with the US – I consider that is exceptionally significant for this state."

The stalled approval process culminated last week when the president's political group – which holds a dominant in the legislature – moved forward with a designated ballot on preparing the site and prevailed.

Opposition representatives have labelled the ruling against the constitution, notably Aleksandar Jovanovic, who characterized it as a "violation", and declared the historic site would be exchanged with "gaming establishments and hot tubs".

Meanwhile, progressive representative Marinika Tepic remarked the authorities was compromising the country's past "to appease the former president".

The passage of the law has also been challenged by architectural specialists, and follows subsequent to an anti-corruption group, an anti-corruption organisation, voiced worries about state-backed initiatives.

According to Serbian press reports prior to his maiden election run, the former president previously explored building a hospitality property in Belgrade.

In March, the developer stated media outlets he was unfamiliar of his father-in-law's alleged earlier interest.

The decision to pave the path for the project comes as the president's government aims to maintain good relations with both Washington and Moscow.

The nation has been influenced by each of Trump's trade measures and restrictions on the Russian Federation's interests in the country, comprising on its single fuel processing plant, the majority Moscow-controlled Nafna Industrika Srbije (NIS).