A new wave of protests has erupted in Albania over plans to build a $1.6 billion luxury tourist resort linked to Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump. Thousands of citizens took to the streets of Tirana for a third consecutive day, voicing opposition to the project and warning of serious environmental consequences in one of the Mediterranean’s most ecologically sensitive regions.
Many protesters carried inflatable flamingos as a symbolic reference to the area’s wildlife. They accuse the government of lacking transparency and failing to conduct meaningful public consultation. Additional demonstrations have been scheduled in southern Albania, where work on the investment project has already begun.
At the center of the controversy is a development proposed by Affinity Partners, Kushner’s investment firm, on Sazan Island and neighboring protected coastal areas. The region contains important wetlands and serves as a habitat for the endangered Mediterranean monk seal, as well as more than 200 bird species, including flamingos and Dalmatian pelicans.
Allegations of Lack of Transparency and Public Consultation
Aleksandër Trajçe, Executive Director of the environmental organization PPNEA, criticized the project, claiming that construction began without adequate public information and without the necessary licensing details being made available. According to him, the installation of barbed-wire fencing, the presence of private security personnel, and the use of heavy machinery in protected areas have angered local communities.
“We have never seen anything like this in Albania’s protected areas,” he said, arguing that environmental and social considerations had been completely disregarded.
Trajçe added that the issue has now moved beyond a purely environmental dispute and has become a broader matter of democratic accountability and protection of the public interest.
Meanwhile, Albania’s Special Anti-Corruption and Organized Crime Office (SPAK) announced that it has launched an investigation into legislative changes adopted in 2024 concerning protected areas, adding a new dimension to the controversy.
Rama Defends the Investment
For his part, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama once again defended the project, arguing that it represents an important step for the country’s economic development and its efforts to attract high-quality tourism.
Although he proposed dialogue with the protesters, Rama made it clear that he does not intend to suspend the project, emphasizing that Albania must remain welcoming to international investors.
The dispute has become one of the most controversial political and environmental issues in the country. Critics warn that the development could cause irreversible damage to a unique ecosystem, while supporters view it as a key driver of Albania’s future tourism growth.
Public opposition, however, appears to be intensifying, with an increasing number of organizations and citizens calling for a review of the project and greater transparency in the decision-making process.
