Thousands protest in Albania against luxury resort linked to Jared Kushner

Thousands of demonstrators have gathered across Albania in recent days, protesting a proposed luxury resort project linked to Jared Kushner, Donald Trump's son-in-law. The protests, which escalated from local sites like Zvërnec to the capital, Tirana, highlight widespread concerns over environmental damage and a perceived lack of transparency regarding the development. The controversial project is planned for the uninhabited Sazan Island and the protected Vjosa-Narta coastal wetland, an area critical for diverse wildlife and endangered species, including the Mediterranean monk seal and numerous bird species.

Environmental groups and activists are vehemently opposing the resort, asserting that construction has already begun with heavy machinery and barbed wire fences blocking public access to beaches. They criticize the Albanian government for amending protected area laws in 2024 to facilitate such high-end tourism projects. Despite the Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama's defense of the project as an economic boost and an offer for dialogue, protesters have rejected his proposal, demanding the project be stopped.

Adding to the controversy, Albania's Special Structure Against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK) has launched an investigation into the legislative changes and land acquisition process related to the resort. Critics argue that the development, championed by Kushner's firm Affinity Partners, represents a disregard for environmental protection and public land, with some protesters chanting "Albania is not for sale".