Protests in Albania over a proposed luxury resort backed by Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, are expected to grow after opponents turned down an offer from the country’s prime minister “to discuss solutions.”
Thousands took to the streets of Tirana for a third day in a row on Wednesday, some carrying inflatable flamingos to highlight concerns about environmental damage, as calls to block the project grew louder.
Protests are also planned in the south of the country, where work has already begun on the $1.6 billion (£1.19 billion) resort in an area long considered one of the most environmentally sensitive in the Mediterranean.
“There has been a complete lack of transparency from start to finish,” said Aleksandr Trajce, executive director of Albania’s leading conservation group, the Protection and Preservation of the Natural Environment in Albania (PPNEA). “There has been no public consultation or public documents about permits. So now we’re saying: if they remove the bulldozers, take down the fence, and restore the habitats to how they were, then we can start talking.”
Prime Minister Edi Rama has defended the development as a major step in Albania’s shift from a Stalinist state to a high-end tourist destination. On Tuesday, he offered to meet with protesters to try to break the deadlock. But the socialist leader also stood firm, saying: “There is absolutely no chance the investment will stop as long as I am here.”
As Albania’s oldest environmental group, PPNEA raised the alarm when warnings emerged that a region of unique biodiversity and cultural heritage was at risk of being destroyed.
Earlier this year, Ivanka Trump made a surprise visit to the country with a team of architects, touring the site her husband’s investment firm, Affinity Partners, plans to develop.
The resort is set to cover an area that includes not only the uninhabited island of Sazan, Albania’s only island, but also wetlands and coastal habitats in the marine national park that surrounds it. According to BirdLife International, these waters are among the last refuges for the Mediterranean monk seal, and the area is home to more than 200 bird species—many endangered—including flamingos and Dalmatian pelicans.
Large stretches of protected coastal land north of the village of Zvërnec, between the Narta lagoon and the sea, are also marked for development.
“We’ve never seen anything like this in Albania’s protected areas,” said Trajce. “It’s not just unprecedented—there’s been a complete breakdown of the rule of law. No consideration for society, no environmental review, no contract permits. Just bulldozers moving in.”
He said alarm turned into public outrage when workers began building a concrete fence topped with barbed wire around the site near Zvërnec, hired a private security firm to guard it, and heavy machinery started tearing up ancient dunes and Mediterranean pine forests to make way for access roads.
“That’s when locals got really angry,” he said. “People with land there, or who work on the land, suddenly couldn’t get to it… It’s gone beyond just an environmental issue now. It’s about citizens’ rights. It’s much bigger.”
This week, Albania’s special anti-corruption prosecution body, SPAK, announced it had launched an investigation into controversial legal changes made in 2024 regarding protected areas.
Developers say they will move forward responsibly. “Our focus remains on responsible stewardship, environmental improvement, job creation, and building long-term value for local communities. We respect the ongoing public and institutional processes,” said Asher Abehsera, chair of Sazan Real Estate Development LLC, the company behind the project.Developing the plans in partnership with Kushner’s firm. Rama, who won a fourth term last year by promising to get Albania into the EU by 2030, is eager to attract investment to one of Europe’s poorest countries. He also denies that the development will harm its untouched coastline.
On June 1, he told the Albanian parliament that negotiations were still ongoing and a final proposal had not yet been reached. In a statement on Wednesday, he said it was “very important that we remain welcoming, that we remain fair, and that under no circumstances do we get labeled as a country where investors are met with hostility.”
In an interview with the Guardian before the project was first approved, Rama revealed that Kushner had been interested in Albania for years, “when Trump was not close to becoming US president and he seemed more likely to go to jail than to the White House.”
“It wasn’t about Trump, but about Jared as an American investor with a great project,” he said.
Closed off for nearly 50 years under a strict regime that banned travel, Albania has become increasingly popular with visitors drawn to its natural beauty and low cost.
Supporters say Rama’s push to attract high-end investors is necessary if the country wants to avoid the problems of overtourism. But for opponents, the controversy has added to growing frustration with the government. “The anger isn’t so much directed at Kushner or Ivanka Trump, but at the government and how it has handled this,” said Trajce.
Affinity Partners has been contacted for comment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs about the growing protests in Albania over the luxury resort project backed by Jared Kushner
BeginnerLevel Questions
Q What is the protest in Albania about
A People are protesting a planned luxury resort on a pristine stretch of the Albanian coastline They are worried it will damage the environment block public access to the beach and benefit foreign investors more than local people
Q Who is Jared Kushner and why is he involved
A Jared Kushner is a former senior advisor to Donald Trump and the soninlaw of the former president His investment firm is backing the resort project in Albania
Q Where exactly is this resort supposed to be built
A It is planned for Zvrnec a beautiful area near the city of Vlor on the island of Sazan and the Narta Lagoon This is a protected natural area known for its wildlife and salt flats
Q Why are people so upset about a new hotel
A Locals and environmentalists say the resort will destroy a fragile ecosystem privatize a public beach and threaten the livelihoods of people who rely on fishing and tourism in the area They feel the deal was made without proper public consultation
Q Is this protest just about the environment or is there more to it
A Its about the environment but also about transparency Critics say the Albanian government approved the project too quickly and without enough public debate raising concerns about corruption and foreign influence
IntermediateLevel Questions
Q What is the specific environmental damage people are worried about
A The resort is planned for the Narta Lagoon a key habitat for migratory birds and protected species Protesters fear construction will pollute the water destroy salt flats and disrupt the local ecosystem They also worry about increased traffic and waste
Q How does this project affect public access to the beach
A Under Albanian law the coastline is public property However critics argue that building a highend gated resort will effectively block locals from using the beach creating a private beach for wealthy tourists
Q What has the Albanian government said in response to the protests
A The government says the project will create jobs boost tourism and bring economic development to the region They claim it will follow all environmental regulations but
