Sharp concern has been raised in the country over incidents that occurred yesterday, Saturday, in Zvërnec, Albania during a protest by residents over the failure to create a tourist resort in a sensitive ecological zone.

Greece’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement referring to the Greek citizen who was injured during the incidents while stressing the need to respect the rule of law.

The Foreign Ministry’s statement

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expresses its deep concern about the incidents that occurred yesterday, 30 May 2026, in Zvërnec, Albania, during a protest by residents over their property rights, including a Greek citizen who was injured. The Embassy of Greece in Tirana immediately took all necessary steps to provide him with all necessary consular and medical assistance.

The Embassy of Greece in Tirana is also making the necessary representations to the Albanian side, asking for the full clarification of the incident and the attribution of responsibility.

We underline the need for full respect of the rule of law, including the protection of the rights and property of the members of the Greek National Minority, as well as the importance of effective protection of protected environmental areas, in the context of alignment with the European acquis, compliance with which is a prerequisite for the progress of the accession process.

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Reactions to the tourist complex

A protest was held yesterday in Svernitsa, Albania, by those who oppose the construction of a large tourist complex in the Dalani region. The protesters clashed with what they described as private security for the companies in charge of the tourist complex.

The protesters point out the need to protect the natural environment and oppose the building plans in one of the most ecologically sensitive zones of the Albanian coast as the biodiversity of Pishë Poro-Narta is threatened, and demand the immediate stop of the works and the reconsideration of the project.

The development of the project is reportedly entrusted to the company “Zvërnec South Adriatic Development”, which is associated with international investment structures involving Jared Kushner, Ivanka Trump and Qatari businessmen.

Violent incidents

During the protest, incidents broke outbetween protesters and people wearing civilian clothes, hats and glasses. The protesters said these individuals were private security for the project. In fact, a video released on social media showed a protester being dragged to the ground by these individuals.

The fact that there were police forces in the area, who had formed a protective cordon around the work site but did not intervene to de-escalate the situation, further “inflamed” the tension.

In some places, tear gas was used and stones were exchanged.

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“He was spitting blood”

Zvernets village chief Kostak Konomi, speaking to reporter.al, also spoke of violence before the collapse of the protester, who is seen in the video to have fallen to the ground. “He was shot in the neck and lost consciousness. He was spitting up blood at the hospital,” Conomi said.

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The police response

In an official statement released after the protest, Albanian police said a group of protesters took violent actions to damage the construction site fence.

“During the rally, the situation escalated and a group of protesters committed violent acts to break the fence of the company’s construction site,” the statement said.

Police identified the protester as ES and said he had violently entered the cordoned-off area. It also said he suffered physical injuries while being transported by private security guards and that legal proceedings had been initiated against both two private security workers and 15 protesters.

The statement of the company responsible

Zvërnec South Adriatic Development, the company in charge of this tourism project, did not directly address the allegations of violence in its public response. In a statement, it condemned the acts against private property and accused critics of spreading inaccurate information.

“We unequivocally condemn any act of violence against private property and reject any attempt to misinform the public,” the company said in a statement.