Albanians protest Kushner-backed coastal resort plan
Thousands marched in Tirana against a luxury hotel project in a protected coastal area, citing environmental risks and opaque government dealings.
By Daniel Okafor · Business Editor
3 min read
Thousands of people marched through Tirana against a proposed luxury resort tied to Jared Kushner, turning an environmental dispute into a broader challenge to Albania’s government, AFP and AP reported. The project is planned for the protected Vjosa-Narta coastal area, where opponents say development threatens wildlife and reflects closed-door decision-making.
The Saturday rally was among the largest since nightly demonstrations began in late May, according to AFP and AP. Protesters carried Albanian and U.S. flags, released red balloons and projected the slogan “Albania is not for sale” onto Prime Minister Edi Rama’s office.
Many members of the Albanian diaspora returned to join the march, AP reported. Demonstrators have said they will keep protesting until Rama leaves office, accusing his government of hiding details of major coastal development agreements.
Protected coast at center of dispute
The contested hotel complex is linked to Kushner and Ivanka Trump, the daughter of U.S. President Donald Trump, according to AFP and AP. A separate development is planned for nearby Sazan Island, and both projects sit near important breeding areas for migratory birds in the Vjosa-Narta protected zone.
AFP and AP reported that the area includes flocks of flamingos, which have become a symbol for protesters. Images of the birds were raised during the rally as demonstrators warned of harm to biodiversity.
Heavy machinery entered the area at the end of May, AP reported, adding to public anger over the resort plan. Protesters have framed the dispute as both an environmental fight and a test of how the government handles major coastal projects.
A science student identified as Alma told AFP and AP that the demonstrators were not opposed to development itself. She said their objection was to what they saw as arrogance and a lack of transparency in projects that affect people’s lives.
Rama rejects calls to quit
Rama has refused to resign, AFP and AP reported. Speaking at a party meeting, he argued that criticism of the project was being driven by Kushner’s identity and what he called the “shadow of Trump,” rather than the details of the development.
The prime minister’s opponents have focused on what they describe as opaque coastal deals, according to AFP and AP. Placards at the Tirana march accused the government of corruption, while chants echoed along the capital’s main boulevard.
The demonstrations have continued nightly in the capital, keeping pressure on Rama’s government to halt the hotel project in the protected reserve. AFP and AP reported that protesters now see the resort fight as part of a wider demand for accountability over Albania’s coast.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.