Thousands of Albanians took to the streets of Tirana on Tuesday to oppose a coastal resort project allegedly linked to Jared Kushner, US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, in demonstrations that drew sharp international attention.
Protesters chanted “Cancel the project” and carried banners reading “Albania is not for sale” and “Ivanka, go home,” the latter a reference to Kushner’s wife. They demanded the government block the development, citing concerns over environmental damage and corruption.
Anti-Corruption Probe Launched
Consequently, Albania’s special prosecutor’s office (SPAK), which handles corruption and organised crime cases, announced on Tuesday that it had opened a formal investigation into the funds used to acquire land titles and their subsequent sale to investors.
The proposed project covers hotel construction on the uninhabited island of Sazan and in the protected coastal zone of Vjosa-Narta, near the southern community of Zvernec. Two years ago, Kushner presented plans to transform Sazan, formerly a secret communist military base, into a luxury tourist destination worth an estimated $1.2 billion.
Violence and Rejection
The Tirana rally followed an earlier protest in Zvernec on Saturday, where private security guards attacked and injured several demonstrators who had gathered over barbed wire blocking beach access. Authorities subsequently suspended several police officers and revoked the licences of two private security firms.
In response, Prime Minister Edi Rama invited protesters to send a delegation of around 20 representatives for talks. However, protesters rejected the offer outright and announced a fresh demonstration for Wednesday.
Notably, authorities have not yet confirmed that the barricaded land belongs to Kushner-linked companies. In January, around 40 environmental organisations had already called for the project’s suspension, warning of threats to local biodiversity.
