Endangered 20th-Century Heritage in Belgrade (Serbia) Strategies for Safeguarding and Preservation

On November 14, 2024, the Serbian government removed Belgrade's General Staff and Ministry of Defense buildings from the immovable cultural heritage monuments register, disregarding strong opposition from experts and the public. Even the Heritage Alert issued by the International ICOMOS was ignored. This decision represents one of the most drastic actions among various (un)legal strategies that deliberately lead to demolishing or neglecting 20th-century architectural heritage and has sparked research into the implications of a trend observed since the turbulent 1990s.

The findings reveal that, despite signing (or re-signing) international documents and agreements, the new Serbian state has been unprepared to establish a system for properly recognising, preserving, and managing its built heritage. By analysing numerous examples, the research uncovers various typical preconditions and decisions that facilitate the inadequate treatment of historic buildings and urban areas. Heritage has been sacrificed for profit, breaching legal frameworks and the principles and concepts of cultural heritage, along with its societal significance. Violating cultural property law risks completely undermining the cultural heritage protection system, potentially resulting in the loss of significant national heritage, highlighting this urgent issue. Many doctrinal texts, including the Faro Convention, which marks its 20th anniversary in 2025, show us the path but cannot save monuments, especially in less wealthy countries, even if there are well-organised institutions and trained professionals. Belgrade's heritage faces not an exclusive issue but a widespread one: experts are overshadowed by government and political agendas.