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Thousands of people protested in Albania on Tuesday against a planned luxury tourism development linked to United States President Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner, amid growing concerns over environmental damage, corruption and construction in protected coastal areas.
Protesters gathered in the capital Tirana, marching under the slogan “Albania is not for sale,” filling the streets from Skanderbeg Square to Prime Minister Edi Rama's office. According to local media, the demonstration was called to oppose a controversial new tourism development project in the Zvernec area near the southern coastal city of Vlora.
Chanting “Cancel the project” and carrying banners reading “Albania is not for sale” and “Ivanka, go home,” the demonstrators called on authorities to halt the development and protect environmentally sensitive areas from large-scale construction.
The protest marked the latest escalation in opposition to the project, which has become a major political and environmental issue in the country.
The controversy centers on plans to develop Sazan Island and parts of the nearby Narta-Zvernec wetland and lagoon ecosystem into a luxury tourism destination.
The project features the construction of luxury hotel complexes on the uninhabited island of Sazan and within the protected Vjosa-Narta coastal wetlands near Zvernec.
Estimated to cost around $4 billion, the development is reported to cover approximately 250.1 hectares within the protected coastal ecosystem.
The project is reportedly being pursued by Kushner's investment firm and has received backing from the Albanian government.
Kushner unveiled plans in 2024 for his private equity firm, Affinity Partners, to transform the area into a luxury resort destination. Earlier this year, he visited the site together with his wife, Ivanka Trump.
Environmental groups and local campaigners argue that the project could damage one of Albania's most ecologically sensitive regions and affect properties owned by Greek minority families living in the area.
Tensions intensified during demonstrations held over the weekend at the proposed project site in Zvernec.
Dozens of protesters, including environmental activists, gathered on Saturday to oppose the installation of barbed wire that blocked access to a local beach.
Scuffles were reported between demonstrators and private security personnel guarding the area. Pepper spray used by security guards reportedly affected both protesters and police officers.
Authorities later suspended several police officers and revoked the licenses of two private security companies. The security company involved also announced that some employees had been suspended.
It has not been confirmed whether the land surrounded by barbed wire has been purchased by companies linked to Kushner.
The project has increasingly become a political issue, with protesters demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama and accusing his government of facilitating the development through legislative changes concerning protected areas adopted in 2024.
Rama has defended the initiative, saying the project is proceeding in accordance with legal and environmental requirements.
The Albanian government has promoted luxury tourism investments as part of a broader strategy to attract foreign capital and expand the country's high-end tourism sector.
On Tuesday, Albania's Special Anti-Corruption and Organized Crime Structure (SPAK) announced it had opened an investigation into the funds used to acquire land titles and their subsequent sale to investors.
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The plans also include transforming Sazan Island, a former secret communist-era military base, into a luxury tourism destination. According to earlier proposals presented by Kushner, the development on the island alone would be worth an estimated 1.4 billion euros ($1.2 billion), while luxury hotels would also be built in Zvernec.
In January, around 40 environmental organizations called for the suspension of the project, warning that it could threaten biodiversity in the area.
On Tuesday, Rama invited protesters to select a delegation of around 20 representatives to discuss possible solutions.
The demonstrators rejected the offer and announced plans to hold another protest on Wednesday.
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