Thousands of Albanians demonstrated on Thursday evening in protest against a tourism complex project likely linked to Jared Kushner and his wife Ivanka, the daughter of US President Donald Trump. The demonstrators chanted “Stop the project” and raised banners reading “Albania is not for sale” and “Ivanka, go back to your country,” calling on the government to halt the project, which has raised concerns about environmental damage and corruption. Environmentalists oppose the project, saying it will affect areas of beaches and thousands of flamingos that nest there and pass through neighboring areas every year.
Published on: 06/05/2026 - 12:07
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In the largest demonstration witnessed by Tirana this week regarding the controversial project, thousands of Albanian citizens protested again on Thursday against a luxury resort that a company linked to Jared Kushner, son-in-law of US President Donald Trump, intends to establish in an environmentally sensitive area on the Adriatic coast.
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The project, which costs 1.4 billion euros ($1.6 billion), is led by Kushner's Affinity Partners and is located on an island off the coast of Albania and on an undeveloped stretch of coast near the Vjosa-Narta wetland reserve, which is home to flamingos, seals and sea turtle nesting sites in the south.
Environmentalists oppose this project, saying that it will affect areas of pristine beaches amounting to several hundred hectares and thousands of flamingos that nest there and pass through neighboring areas every year.
Preliminary works and the arrival of heavy machinery at the Vyusa-Narta site sparked local protests last week, followed by mass demonstrations in the streets of Tirana.
Protesters gathered again outside Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama's office late Thursday, carrying banners with pictures of pink flamingos and chanting slogans saying, "Revolution" and "Stop the project."
There was a banner calling on the Prime Minister to resign.
Writer Lindita Komani, who joined the protests, said: “Albania is not for sale. Albania belongs to the Albanian people and we are the ones who decide what we want to do here.”
Some corrupt politicians who run Albania cannot decide the fate of our property and Albanian natural and cultural heritage.”
The Prime Minister defended the project. The developers said their focus will be on “responsible management and environmental improvement.”
Albanian Minister of Economy and Innovation Delina Ibrahimayi said Thursday that environmental impact assessments for the proposed investment are being prepared and must fully comply with environmental legislation and protect local habitats.
The Albanian News Agency (ATA) quoted her as saying that European environmental directives and Albanian law provide legal guarantees against projects that may harm the reserve and its surrounding habitats.
Kushner announced plans to build the resort in 2024 as part of a broader investment that also included a former army headquarters in the Serbian capital, Belgrade, but last year he abandoned the project in Serbia after popular protests.
France 24/AFP
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