Thousands of Albanians have joined daily protests against a planned luxury resort linked to Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump, turning a dispute over a protected coastal area into a test for Prime Minister Edi Rama.
The protests reached their 20th straight day on Friday, according to AFP.
Demonstrators have gathered in Tirana and at coastal sites to oppose construction near Zvërnec, on Albania’s Adriatic coast.
The area sits close to wetlands used by migratory birds, including flamingos, and near habitats linked to seals and sea turtles.
Flamingos have become the symbol of the protest movement. Demonstrators have carried flamingo signs and inflatable birds while chanting that Albania is not for sale.
The project has drawn attention because of its links to the family of United States President Donald Trump. Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, and Ivanka Trump have been connected to plans for a resort on Sazan Island and nearby coastal land opposite it.
The Albanian government has given the development preliminary approval. Rama has defended the plan and said an environmental impact assessment will take place.
Protesters reject that assurance. They say the development threatens public land, weakens nature protection and shows how foreign investors gain access to Albanian coastal areas with little scrutiny.
The demonstrations began around Zvërnec after fencing went up near the planned site. The protest then spread to Tirana, where crowds gathered outside the prime minister’s office. Reuters reported that the largest protest saw crowds stretching along one of the capital’s main boulevards.
Politico reported that the protests had grown from opposition to the Kushner-linked resort into one of Albania’s largest anti-government demonstrations since the fall of communism in 1991. The outlet said demonstrators also called for Rama’s resignation.
Environmental groups have raised legal concerns about the project. NPR reported that lawyer Dorian Matlija represents organisations challenging the government over the project. He said the land is covered by environmental protections tied to Albania’s EU path and that large developments conflict with those obligations.
The European Union has also signalled concern. EU spokesman Guillaume Mercier said Albania should avoid steps that risk undermining environmental benchmarks linked to accession talks.
NPR reported that ornithologist Taulant Bino, head of the Albanian Ornithological Society, has identified more than 250 bird species in the Nartë Lagoon area. He said building access roads during the breeding season damages habitat and disturbs birds, reptiles and amphibians.
Anger has spread beyond Zvërnec. Reuters reported that about 200 protesters tore down metal and razor-wire fencing at another luxury development site in Rrjoll, in north-western Albania, on Saturday. Local residents said the project was being built on land taken from them.
One Rrjoll landowner, Zeke Nikolle Shullani, told Reuters that protests would continue until residents received compensation. Another resident, Nikolin Markpalaj, said investors had refused to consult local people.
Police have moved against some demonstrators. AFP reported that 35 people were charged earlier this week with blocking a motorway.
The protests show no sign of ending. Demonstrators held Albanian flags in Tirana on Friday and repeated their demand for transparency over the tourism complex. Support rallies have also been reported abroad, including in European and US cities.
HT