Protesters clash with police as Albania halts Kushners 4 billion lagoon resort
Tens of thousands of protesters filled central Tirana on Thursday as Albania’s government faced its gravest political crisis since the 2019 earthquake, with demonstrations now in their sixth day against a $4 billion luxury resort complex on the Narta Lagoon backed by Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of former US President Donald Trump. The project, led by an investment fund tied to Kushner, has drawn fierce opposition from environmentalists, anti-corruption campaigners, and local residents who say it threatens one of Europe’s most ecologically sensitive coastal zones.
Videos circulating on social media show riot police clashing with demonstrators, including footage of security personnel pushing a protester to the ground and dragging him away . The unrest follows the Albanian state anti-corruption agency’s confirmation on Wednesday that it has opened an investigation into the project, which critics allege may involve irregularities in permitting and land acquisition. Prime Minister Edi Rama, a key ally of Kushner’s investment group, has defended the development as an economic boon, but protesters reject the comparison to Dubai-style overdevelopment, chanting slogans like “We don’t want Albania like Dubai” .
The proposed resort, slated for the island of Sazan in southern Albania, would include luxury hotels, villas, and marinas on a protected marine area that is home to endangered species and migratory birds. Environmental groups warn that dredging and construction could irreparably damage the lagoon’s ecosystem, which has been designated as a protected wetland under national and international agreements. “This is not just about a resort—it’s about the future of our coastline,” said environmental lawyer Luljeta Bregu, who is coordinating legal challenges against the project. “The government is prioritizing foreign investors over Albania’s natural heritage.”
Kushner, a former senior advisor to his father-in-law’s administration, has faced similar backlash in the Balkans before. In 2025, his investment firm abandoned plans for a luxury development in Serbia after local opposition and regulatory hurdles derailed the project. The Albanian government has not disclosed the full terms of its agreement with Kushner’s consortium, raising further concerns about transparency. Meanwhile, opposition politicians have called for Rama’s resignation, accusing him of enabling a “corporate takeover” of Albania’s coastline.
With protests showing no signs of abating, analysts say the crisis could deepen political instability in Tirana just months before scheduled parliamentary elections. The anti-corruption agency’s investigation, expected to take weeks, may determine whether the project proceeds—or whether Kushner’s luxury ambitions in Europe meet the same fate as his earlier ventures.
Protesters clash with police as Albania halts Kushners 4 billion lagoon resort
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