Thousands of people have taken to the streets in Albania in recent days to protest against a luxury tourism project linked to Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump, and his wife Ivanka Trump.
The demonstrations, held in the capital Tirana and in the southern coastal village of Zvernec, have brought together environmental activists, local residents and opposition supporters.
Protesters say the development threatens one of Albania's most environmentally sensitive coastal areas and have accused the government of prioritising foreign investment over environmental protection.
At the centre of the dispute is a proposed luxury tourism development on Sazan Island and parts of the nearby Narta-Zvernec lagoon ecosystem on Albania's southern coast.
The project, backed by Kushner's investment firm, is estimated to be worth around $4 billion and would include hotels and tourism facilities across hundreds of acres of protected coastal land.
Sazan Island, once a secret military base during Albania's communist era, is currently uninhabited. The wider area is known for its rich biodiversity, wetlands and migratory bird habitats.
The Albanian government has supported the development as part of its strategy to attract foreign investment and expand the country's luxury tourism sector.
Opponents argue that the project could cause irreversible environmental damage to one of Albania's most valuable natural areas.
In January, around 40 environmental organisations called for the plans to be suspended, warning of risks to biodiversity and protected habitats.
Local campaigners have also raised concerns about land ownership and the possible impact on properties belonging to members of the Greek minority community in the region.
The protests intensified after barbed wire was installed near the proposed development site in Zvernec, restricting access to a beach that residents say has long been publicly accessible.
Demonstrators gathered under the slogan "Albania is not for sale" and carried banners reading "Cancel the project" and "Ivanka, go home".
Tensions escalated during a protest in Zvernec over the weekend when clashes broke out between demonstrators and private security personnel guarding the area.
Several protesters were reportedly injured, while pepper spray affected both demonstrators and police officers. Authorities later suspended several police officers and revoked the licences of two private security companies. The security firm involved also announced that some employees had been suspended.
A larger demonstration followed in Tirana, where thousands marched from Skanderbeg Square to the office of Prime Minister Edi Rama.
Albania's Special Anti-Corruption and Organised Crime Structure (SPAK) announced on Tuesday (2 June) that it had launched an investigation into the funds used to acquire land titles and their subsequent sale to investors.
Authorities have not stated whether the investigation directly concerns companies linked to Kushner.
Prime Minister Edi Rama has strongly defended the project, arguing that it complies with Albanian law and environmental regulations.
His government says attracting high-end tourism investment is important for economic growth and job creation.
Rama also invited protesters to nominate a delegation of around 20 representatives to discuss possible solutions. Protest organisers rejected the offer and announced further demonstrations.
The controversy has become increasingly political, with opponents accusing the government of changing legislation governing protected areas in 2024 to make the development possible.
Protesters have also called for Rama's resignation.
Jared Kushner first unveiled plans for tourism projects in Albania around two years ago, including the redevelopment of Sazan Island into a luxury destination.
Ivanka Trump has publicly expressed her support for the project. Speaking on entrepreneur David Senra's podcast, she described the development as "the project of a lifetime" and said it was the most ambitious project she had undertaken.
Trump said she became interested in Sazan Island after visiting the area by boat and described the landscape as exceptional.
She stressed that the development was intended to work alongside the natural environment rather than replace it.
"Any architectural intervention should be undertaken with complete respect for the environment and integrated organically with nature, almost as if it were part of it," she said.
She added that the project team was working with internationally renowned architects and designers.
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