FLASH NEWS
'Spiegel': Edi Rama under pressure from mass protests, police continue criminal proceedings
2026-06-20 11:15:30 / POLITIKË
A luxury resort planned by Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump near a flamingo breeding area is dividing Albania. Thousands of people have been protesting for weeks – now the police are responding with criminal proceedings. Even Prime Minister Rama is coming under pressure.
Criminal proceedings have been opened against 27 more protesters in Albania over new protests against a luxury project by Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner. The suspects are accused of violating public order and security, police said Friday.
Thousands of people took to the streets of the capital Tirana again on Friday evening in protest. Earlier this week, criminal proceedings had already been opened against 35 demonstrators, who were suspected of blocking a highway during previous protests.
While marching through the streets of the capital, many protesters waved the Albanian flag and chanted slogans such as: “Albania is not for sale,” “Cancel the project,” and “Rama go,” referring to Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama. Many protesters also carried banners with pink flamingos as a symbol of the protest movement.
Since late May, Albania has been regularly protesting the construction of a luxury holiday resort in a protected natural area on the Albanian coast. The construction project involves US President Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and his wife, Ivanka Trump.
The demonstrators want to continue the protest until their demands, including the cancellation of the project, are met. Part of the protest movement is now also demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama.
The protest began after construction fences secured with barbed wire and bulldozers suddenly appeared on a beach in Zvërnec, southwest of Tirana.
The project, co-financed by Jared Kushner, is expected to be built near an important breeding area for migratory birds, including flamingos.
Kushner's company Atlantic Incubation Partners LLC plans to invest 1.4 billion euros to open a luxury resort on Sazan Island, a former military base.
Sazan is just under six square kilometers in area, a rocky massif covered with pines, green oaks, rosemary and lavender on the Adriatic Sea. It is located at about the same latitude as Lecce or Brindisi.
However, coastal residents now have another name for the island. They call it: Trump Island.
Last year, Albanian authorities initially accelerated the real estate project by granting Kushner "strategic investor" status.
The Albanian government has long been trying to boost its economy through tourism.
US President Donald Trump's family has invested in many luxury projects around the world.
Critics accuse Jared Kushner and his wife of using Donald Trump's presidency for their own business interests.
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