Albanians rally against Trump-linked luxury resort in protected coastal lagoon, protests enter second week
Several hundred protesters gathered at the Vjosa-Narta lagoon on Saturday, while thousands continued nightly demonstrations in Tirana, opposing a €4 billion luxury resort project tied to Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump.
On the ground at the lagoon
Several hundred people gathered Saturday at the Vjosa-Narta lagoon, a protected nature reserve about 150 kilometres southwest of Tirana, responding to a call from environmental organisations. Activists from across Albania joined local residents on a sandy beach facing the Adriatic, waving red Albanian flags and carrying inflatable flamingos that have become the movement's symbol. The crowd chanted "cancel the project" as they protested preparatory work for a luxury beach resort linked to the Trump family.
The whole of this marine area is a protected zone. To destroy it would be fatal for this region's biodiversity.
AFP journalists on site observed concrete foundations for a fence that had been installed and subsequently removed, along with barbed wire that was taken down after an initial protest in late May. Construction machinery seen in social media videos earlier was absent on Saturday.
Tirana protests swell
For nearly a week, thousands of demonstrators have assembled each evening in the capital Tirana to denounce what they view as the planned destruction of entire sections of the Vjosa-Narta Nature Reserve. Saturday evening's gathering continued that pattern, marking one of the largest sustained protest actions against the development. The plan envisions transforming the uninhabited island of Sazan, once a secret communist military base, into a glitzy tourist destination alongside the mainland resort.
This is a problem not only regarding the transparency of this whole process, but also everything has happened with a complete disregard of the environmental importance of this area.
Environmental stakes
The coastal lagoon on the southern Adriatic is a significant resting area for migratory birds, including flamingos. Denisa Kasa of the Albanian Association for the Protection of the Environment (PPNEA) described the site as one of the most important biodiversity hotspots in the Mediterranean. The Albanian-Australian swimmer Eva Buzo swam 15 kilometres around the affected island to draw attention to the development plans.
Government response
Prime Minister Edi Rama downplayed the protests on Friday, stating there was "no reason to worry" and that the project had not yet been approved. He said the world's best experts were involved in the planning and that the goal was to create something unique. The Albanian government has long sought to boost the economy through tourism. Critics accuse Kushner and his wife of leveraging Donald Trump's presidency for personal business gain.
- Initial protest at the lagoon site against preparatory work and barbed wire installation; unrest reported.
- Barbed wire and concrete fence foundations removed from the site following the protest.
- Nightly protests begin in Tirana, with thousands gathering each evening for nearly a week.
- PM Edi Rama downplays protests, says project not yet approved and no reason to worry.
- Several hundred protest at the lagoon; swimmer Eva Buzo circles Sazan island; Tirana evening protests continue.
Project scale and Trump ties
The resort project is estimated at roughly €4 billion ($4.6 billion) and is linked to Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner. The Trump family has invested in luxury projects worldwide. The development would convert protected sections of the Vjosa-Narta reserve into a high-end tourist destination, with the Sazan island component adding a second location to the overall plan.
