Thousands of people [2] protested in Tirana on Thursday against a coastal tourism project linked to Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump.
The demonstrations highlight growing tensions over foreign investment in protected ecological zones and the perceived lack of transparency in government land deals.
This marked the fourth consecutive day of street protests in the capital. The demonstrations center on a proposed real estate development located in the Vjosa-Narta area, a protected region on the southern coast of Albania [1].
Protesters said the project would cause significant environmental damage to the coastal ecosystem. The coastal tourism complex carries an estimated cost of $1.2 billion [1].
Critics of the development have raised concerns regarding how the project was approved and the influence of the Kushner-linked investment. The scale of the project, combined with its location in a protected area, has fueled the public outcry in Tirana [2].
Local activists said the project lacks the necessary transparency to ensure the protection of Albania's natural heritage. The protests have remained focused on the intersection of high-finance real estate, and environmental preservation [3].
“Thousands of people protested in Tirana on Thursday”
The protests reflect a broader clash between Albania's drive for high-value foreign investment and the preservation of its protected natural landscapes. By linking the project to prominent US figures, the movement has transitioned from a local environmental dispute to a broader critique of political transparency and the influence of international capital on domestic land use.
