TIRANA, Albania — Plans by a firm linked to Jared Kushner, son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump, to develop luxury resorts on Albania’s Adriatic coast have sparked protests in the capital and other areas, with demonstrators citing environmental risks to protected habitats.
Thousands of Albanians have taken to the streets in Tirana in recent days, including what organizers described as one of the largest demonstrations in years on June 10, protesting developments near ecologically sensitive zones. The projects involve a roughly €1.4 billion resort on the uninhabited Sazan Island and a larger coastal complex near the Vjosa-Narta wetlands area, according to reports citing government and investor details.
Environmental groups and local residents have raised concerns about potential damage to habitats for flamingos, sea turtles, monk seals and other protected species in the region, which includes former military sites now designated as nature preserves. Protesters have carried inflatable flamingos as symbols and chanted slogans such as “Albania is not for sale,” according to footage and accounts from multiple news outlets.
Prime Minister Edi Rama’s government has defended the investments, saying they will boost tourism and the economy in the Balkan nation as it seeks closer ties with the European Union. Rama has vowed to proceed while promising environmental safeguards, according to interviews and statements reported this week.
The developments are backed by Kushner’s investment firm Affinity Partners and involve his wife, Ivanka Trump, who has spoken publicly about the project. Details of the exact ownership structure and timelines remain subject to ongoing negotiations and approvals.
Opposition figures and activists have called for greater transparency in the deals and, in some cases, the prime minister’s resignation, framing the protests as part of broader discontent over governance and land use. Some reports indicate temporary pauses in related construction activities amid the outcry.
The European Union has expressed concerns about compliance with environmental standards, according to diplomatic statements. Albanian authorities have said the projects meet legal requirements and will include protections for wildlife.
As of Saturday, protests continued on a smaller scale in Tirana and coastal areas, with no immediate resolution reported between the government, investors and demonstrators. Police have managed crowds without major reported injuries in recent days.
The episode highlights tensions in Albania between economic development ambitions and conservation priorities in one of Europe’s remaining relatively unspoiled coastal regions.
