Thousands of Albanians have protested since early June against a luxury resort development linked to Jared Kushner on the Adriatic coast, primarily near the island of Sazan and the protected Vjosa-Narta wetlands by Zvernec village [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]. The project aims to transform the former communist military base on Sazan island and 618 acres of adjacent protected coastal wetlands into a high-end resort [1, 2, 6, 5].
The project is led by Affinity Partners, a firm linked to Kushner, in partnership with Sazan Real Estate Development [1, 2, 3, 6]. It is among the largest tourism investments in Albania, with an estimated value of €1.4 billion ($1.2–1.6 billion), though one source estimated $5 billion [1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 5].
Environmentalists and local groups have opposed construction, citing serious threats to biodiversity and important habitats including flamingos, sea turtles, and the endangered Mediterranean monk seal [1, 2, 3, 5]. Joni Vorpsi, ecologist with PPNEA-BirdLife Albania, demanded, "We want all construction to halt and heavy machines out of the protected area" [1]. Aleksandr Trajce, PPNEA's executive director, criticized the process for a complete lack of transparency and absence of public consultation or documentation on permits [2].
Protests began June 1–2 with rallies in Zvernec and spread to thousands gathering in Tirana outside the Prime Minister’s office on June 2 [1, 2, 3, 5]. Clashes with private security at the construction site caused injuries and temporary security suspensions [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]. Demonstrations have continued for six days as of June 7, with plans for further protests in southern Albania [2, 4]. Some protesters have called for Prime Minister Edi Rama’s resignation, accusing the government of enabling the project through legal changes affecting protected areas [5].
Prime Minister Edi Rama defended the development, stating, "There is absolutely no chance that the investment will stop as long as I am here," emphasizing the project’s importance for economic growth [1, 2, 5].
The timeline of this development began with Kushner announcing plans in 2024 to redevelop Sazan island, with the government granting strategic investor status to Kushner-linked firm Affinity Partners in early 2026 [1, 3, 6]. Bulldozers began clearing land at the site in late May to early June, triggering protests and security confrontations [1, 2, 3, 6, 5].
The protests remain active as of June 7, with local groups demanding immediate cessation of construction on the environmentally sensitive coastal wetlands and island areas.
