Albania, anger grows against the government for supporting a Kushner-linked luxury resort

Anger is rising in Albania as the government advances a Kushner-linked luxury resort plan off the Adriatic coast. Ivanka Trump described plots across Sazan Island and five miles of beachfront opposite Zvérnec during a podcast interview, prompting renewed controversy. Protests outside Prime Minister Edi Rama's office in Tirana have drawn thousands, with demonstrators accusing authorities of resource theft and land deals. Locals describe Zvérnec as a protected coastal area for nesting birds and wildlife, with Soviet-era remnants visible from the shore. The islands sit opposite a habitat that draws international attention for conservation, complicating approval processes and fueling public skepticism.

Decades of Soviet-era military interest on Sazan, with the island opposite Zvérnec and the landscape, contrast with officials' arguments that the resort could boost tourism and investment. Critics fear privatization of public spaces and environmental damage. Protests reflect broader distrust over how land and coastal resources are allocated in Albania. No construction timeline has been announced, and environmental review is deemed necessary. Ivanka Trump has framed the ventures as authentic-life projects, but opponents warn of foreign-backed developments reshaping Albania's coast.