Court releases 19 detained in Albanian resort protests
A Tirana court freed protesters held after unrest tied to opposition to a coastal resort linked to Jared Kushner.
By James Whitfield · Staff Writer
2 min read
A court in Tirana released 19 people detained during protests against a planned luxury resort tied to Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump. The ruling came as demonstrations over the coastal project have widened into a broader challenge to Albania’s government.
Lawyer Dorian Matlija told reporters Sunday that the protesters had been held on suspicion of refusing police orders, organizing unlawful demonstrations and disrupting public order. Matlija said two of those released will be confined to house arrest, while 12 others must check in with judicial police once or twice a month.
The remaining five will not face charges, Matlija said. Outside the court, supporters cheered the decision after gathering and chanting in support of the detainees, according to AFP and Reuters.
The arrests followed a tense confrontation Thursday outside Albania’s parliament, where hundreds of protesters tried to confront lawmakers and prevent entry to the building. Police used tear gas, pepper spray and water cannon to break up the crowd, AFP and Reuters reported.
Some demonstrators attempted to force their way through police lines and threw eggs, stones and other objects, according to the news agencies. Fifteen police officers were injured, and 25 protesters were detained.
The unrest marked a sharper turn for a protest movement that has brought people into the streets nightly since May. The demonstrations began over the resort project planned for Albania’s southern coast near a protected natural area.
Opposition to the project grew after barbed-wire fencing and bulldozers appeared on beaches in late May, according to AFP and Reuters. The resort proposal had first been unveiled in 2024.
Protesters have since linked the development dispute to wider complaints about corruption and governance. Crowds have chanted slogans including “New Albania” and “Edi Rama, resign,” referring to the prime minister.
Tens of thousands of people rallied Saturday evening in Tirana in what AFP and Reuters described as the largest protest since the movement began. Demonstrators again called for the release of the detained protesters.
The resort dispute has become a focus for public anger over perceived corruption, AFP and Reuters reported. Earlier this year, separate clashes broke out as protesters demanded the resignation of Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku over alleged corruption.
Balluku was later dismissed, but the protests over the coastal development show mistrust in the government has continued. The latest rallies have kept pressure on Rama as the legal cases stemming from Thursday’s unrest proceed.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.