Protesters tear down fences at Albanian luxury development site as anti-government movement spreads

Protests expand from Vlora to Rrjoll

Saturday's action in Rrjoll involved about 200 people tearing down metal and razor-wire fencing around a five-star luxury development site. The project, granted "special status investor" by the government, mirrors the larger controversy over a Kushner-backed resort near the protected Zvernec peninsula. Protesters waved Albanian flags and chanted "Revolution" during the confrontation; scuffles with police occurred but officers did not prevent the fence removal.

Land rights fuel local anger

Villagers say their land was seized without compensation for the development.

“The protests will not stop until the residents of the village of Rrjoll are compensated. We are 200 families whose land has been seized.”

Another resident, Nikolin Markpalaj, 60, described the situation as "madness" and said investors refused to consult local people. In the Zvernec area, 81-year-old Kostaq Konomi told Reuters he was ready to take up arms after discovering his family land was fenced off.

“I was a small boy when I put my feet in that water. Now I am an old man and they say I cannot.”

Reuters reported seeing property deeds and tax records from a dozen residents, though ownership is subject to a legal dispute.

Environmental concerns and EU attention

The broader protest movement, dubbed the "flamingo revolution", began in early June and has drawn thousands to Tirana daily. The southern site lies within a protected wetland that shelters flamingos, seals and sea turtles. The European Union has expressed concern over the wildlife impact.

“Our goal is simple: celebrate Albania's natural beauty, create jobs, and build something future generations can be proud of.”

The Sazan development, valued at 1.2 billion euros, is one of several luxury projects championed by Prime Minister Edi Rama's government.

Political fallout and next steps

Rama has defended the Kushner project as legal and beneficial for Albania's economy, but protesters demand his resignation. The Rrjoll incident shows the movement is gaining geographic reach, with residents citing identical grievances about land seizures. While Reuters found no evidence of wrongdoing by Kushner, the controversy has deepened Albania's most significant political crisis in recent years.