Students from several Belgrade faculties and the initiative Ansambl Generalštab gathered in front of the General Staff building, warning the government that they will defend this symbol of Belgrade with their bodies if authorities proceed with demolition plans. The protest carried the slogan “We are a living wall”.
Participants included students from the Faculty of Applied Arts, the Faculty of Architecture, and the Faculty of Philosophy, as well as members of Ansambl Generalštab. They assembled at the intersection of Kneza Miloša and Nemanjina streets, a central and symbolic location.
Protest Highlights:
- Students warned the government of Aleksandar Vučić that they will physically protect the building.
- Demonstrators displayed banners reading “Culture Against Traitors”, criticizing the authorities for removing the building’s protected cultural status.
- Organizers coordinated four separate starting points across the city, converging at the General Staff building, emphasizing city-wide solidarity.
- Planned performances included a 16-minute silent protest, followed by a verbal warning to authorities, demonstrating the seriousness of their stance.
Cultural and Legal Concerns:
The demolition was approved by the National Assembly of Serbia on 7 November with a lex specialis, allowing construction of hotels and residential towers on the site, despite:
- Violating the Law on Cultural Heritage
- Contradicting the Planning and Construction Law
- Ignoring provisions in the Serbian Constitution
Experts have long argued that the building can be restored rather than demolished. A 2006 study by professors from the Faculty of Civil Engineering in Belgrade concluded that both buildings could be structurally stabilized, with the damaged sections of Building A rebuilt and connected to the remaining parts. Building B, largely intact, could also be preserved.
Professor Dušan Najdanović, one of the study’s authors, stated:
“Both buildings can definitely be saved. The damaged parts can be reconstructed and connected. Restoration would cost tens of millions of euros, which is far less than the exorbitant costs claimed by the authorities. Demolishing everything would be a catastrophe.”
Despite these findings, the government and parliament ignored the technical report and pressed forward with demolition plans, raising serious concerns about mismanagement, disregard for heritage, and authoritarian decision-making.
Students warn: “If authorities do not protect the General Staff building, we will defend it with our bodies.” This protest is expected to be the first in a series of actions to save the city’s cultural heritage.
