Thousands Protest in Albania Over Kushner-Linked Coastal Resort Project
Thousands of people gathered in Albania’s capital, Tirana, to protest a planned luxury tourism development linked to Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of US President Donald Trump. Demonstrators called on the government to cancel the project, raising concerns about environmental damage and transparency in land deals.
The proposed development includes luxury hotels on the uninhabited island of Sazan and in the protected Vjosa-Narta coastal area near Zvernec. Environmental groups warn that the project could threaten sensitive ecosystems that are home to flamingos, seals, and sea turtle nesting sites.
Protesters carried banners reading “Albania is not for sale” and demanded that construction work stop immediately. The demonstration followed earlier protests in Zvernec, where activists opposed the installation of barbed wire that restricted public access to the beach. Several protesters were injured during clashes with private security guards, leading authorities to suspend police officers and revoke the licences of two security companies.
Albania’s anti-corruption prosecutor has launched an investigation into the funding and sale of land involved in the project. However, it remains unconfirmed whether the fenced-off land has been purchased by Kushner’s investment firm, Affinity Partners.
Kushner first unveiled plans for the development two years ago, proposing a luxury resort investment worth about €1.4 billion. Environmental organisations have repeatedly called for the project to be suspended, arguing that it could cause irreversible harm to one of Albania’s most valuable natural areas.
Prime Minister Edi Rama has strongly defended the investment, saying Albania must remain welcoming to foreign investors. He rejected calls to halt the project and stated that it would continue under his government despite the ongoing protests.
