Luxury Resort Development in Albania Sparks Protests and Anti-Corruption Inquiry
A planned luxury resort along Albania's southern Adriatic coast—linked to an investment firm associated with Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump—has ignited several days of protests in Tirana and triggered an investigation by the country's state anti-corruption agency.
"There is no chance for this investment to stop as long as I am here," Prime Minister Edi Rama declared, dismissing environmental concerns.
Project Sites and Scope
The development centers on two main locations:
- Narta Lagoon Area: A designated nature reserve and critical habitat for migratory birds.
- Sazan Island: An uninhabited island off the coast.
Reports indicate the investment ranges between €4 billion ($4.6 billion) and $1.6 billion, depending on the source. Plans include hotels, apartments, villas, and a marina. The firms behind the project—Affinity Partners and Sazan Real Estate Development LLC—were granted special investor status by Albanian authorities.
Construction began in late May 2024, with heavy machinery clearing land, installing fencing, and building access roads. Workers have erected a concrete fence topped with barbed wire near the village of Zvërnec, and have cleared dunes and pine forests. Private security personnel are now stationed at the site.
Protests and Opposition
Protests in Tirana continued for a third consecutive day, with thousands of participants. Some demonstrators carried inflatable flamingos to highlight concerns over local wildlife. Video footage captured a private security guard dragging a protester at the construction site.
Opposition groups—including environmental organizations from Albania and Europe—have raised key objections:
- Environmental Impact: Critics allege "irreversible destruction" of protected habitats. The area hosts endangered species, including the Mediterranean monk seal and over 200 bird species.
- Transparency: The environmental group PPNEA claims there has been no public consultation or documentation regarding permits. They have called for the removal of bulldozers and restoration of habitats.
- Protected Area Status: The development encroaches on coastal habitats within a marine national park and a nature reserve vital for migratory birds. An inquiry has been launched into legislative changes on protected areas adopted in 2024.
- Land Ownership: The Albanian government insists the land is privately owned, but the ownership remains disputed.
Government and Investor Response
Prime Minister Edi Rama has publicly backed the project, framing it as central to Albania's tourism ambitions. He stated firmly:
"This investment will not stop as long as I am here," adding that Albania must remain welcoming to investors.
Rama dismissed environmental concerns, asserting the project does not involve protected areas or affect flamingo populations, and claimed protesters have been misled. He proposed a meeting with demonstrators.
Developer Asher Abehsera described the project's focus as "responsible stewardship, environmental enhancement, job creation, and creating long-term value for local communities."
Official Investigations
Albania's state anti-corruption agency (SPAK) has opened an investigation related to the project. Specific details of the inquiry have not been made public.
Separately, an investigation has been launched into legislative changes concerning protected areas that were adopted in 2024.
Context and Related Precedent
Albania's 450 km coastline remained largely undeveloped during its communist-era rule. The country is currently pursuing European Union membership, with a target date of 2030.
A similar development project in Serbia, also linked to Jared Kushner's investment firm, faced legal challenges. Serbian prosecutors charged four individuals with abuse of office in connection with that project, and Kushner later withdrew from the investment.
Personal Statement
Ivanka Trump, in a podcast interview, described discovering the site while swimming and hiking barefoot.