Thousands of Albanians protested on June 2, 2026, against a proposed coastal tourism complex linked to Jared Kushner, son-in-law of former US President Donald Trump. Demonstrators chanted "Cancel the project" and displayed banners stating "Albania is not for sale" and "Ivanka, go home," demanding that the government halt the resort project due to concerns over environmental damage and corruption.
The development plan includes hotel complexes on the uninhabited island of Sazan and in the protected coastal area of Vjosa-Narta, located in Zvernec. The Special Prosecutor's Office for the Fight Against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK) announced an investigation into the funds used for acquiring land titles and their sale to investors.
The protests in the capital, Tirana, followed an earlier demonstration in Zvernec, where activists protested against barbed wire blocking beach access. Reports indicate that private security guards injured several protesters, prompting authorities to suspend police officers and revoke licenses of two private security companies.
While it remains unconfirmed whether the land surrounded by barbed wire was purchased by companies associated with Kushner, he had previously proposed a development plan for Albania that included transforming Sazan into a luxury tourist destination, estimated to cost around 1.4 billion euros ($1.2 billion). In January, approximately 40 environmental organizations called for the suspension of the resort plans due to potential threats to biodiversity. On Tuesday, Prime Minister Edi Rama invited protesters to select a delegation for discussions, but they rejected the offer and planned another protest for the following day.
