The Belgrade Fair, once a pride and cultural monument, has turned into a battlefield of chaos and conflict! On July 17, police brutally broke up a student blockade in front of the fair, where young people were trying to protect the cultural and historical heritage from planned demolition. It all started after media reports claimed that demolition had already begun, and videos showing demolished auxiliary buildings sparked outrage on social media.
The Serbian government made controversial amendments to the spatial plan in early April, expanding the “Belgrade Waterfront” area by several hectares, including the Belgrade Fair site. This project is being implemented by the state in cooperation with Eagle Hills, a company from the United Arab Emirates, but the public discussion on the plan has not yet been held, although it was scheduled for June 30 but postponed due to numerous citizen and expert objections.
Opposition parties and NGOs warn that numerous legal provisions have been violated throughout the process, and only Hall 1 of the fair retains its status as a cultural monument, while other buildings have lost this protection. The Belgrade Fair administration denies illegal demolition, stating that two illegal structures were removed as part of the works on the Sava riverbank.
However, students and experts do not believe these claims and continue their fight to preserve cultural heritage. Police detained several demonstrators, including a woman, after a verbal clash. Although the demonstrators were removed from the roadway, they remained on the sidewalk, not giving up on their demands.
This situation raises many questions about the transparency and legality of urban projects in Belgrade, as well as about respecting citizens’ rights to public discussion and cultural heritage preservation. Will the Belgrade Fair become a victim of modernization or remain a symbol of the past? The fight continues, and we will follow every step.
If you have thoughts on this mess or are just tired of these stories, feel free to drop a comment — maybe together we’ll find a solution or at least a good reason for a sarcastic smile!
