A significant coastal development project associated with Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of US President Donald Trump, is currently facing mounting opposition from protesters in Albania. In a recent demonstration in the capital city of Tirana, law enforcement used water cannons to disperse the crowd, sparking clashes with demonstrators.
The Albanian government maintains that this development along the Adriatic coast has the potential to be transformative for the country, particularly as it seeks to enhance its position in the high-end tourism market and advance its efforts toward European Union membership. However, the project, which encompasses an abandoned island and a nearby section of seafront along Albania’s southern coastline, has sparked significant concerns among environmental advocates and critics of the long-standing Socialist Prime Minister Edi Rama. In response to the opposition, Rama asserted, “There is no chance for this investment to stop as long as I am here.”
The ambitious project will irreversibly destroy environment
The luxury project comprises two primary components: a coastal development in the Narta Lagoon area, recognised as a wildlife reserve, and a smaller resort situated on the nearby uninhabited island of Sazan, which has historical significance as a communist-era military base. The planned development includes hotels, apartments, villas, and a marina and is associated with Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump, the daughter of Trump. An investment firm linked to Kushner has received special investor status from the Albanian authorities.
Albania has 450 kilometres of coastline that remained largely undeveloped for decades under stringent communist rule. Concern has arisen among protest groups that influential investors may acquire portions of this pristine coastline. Public sentiment has intensified following the release of video footage showing an activist being forcibly removed by a private security guard during a demonstration at the site.
The proposed development is set within a nature reserve that hosts one of Albania’s most valuable areas of biodiversity, serving as a vital stopover for migratory birds along the Adriatic coast. In an effort to raise awareness, protesters have displayed cardboard cutouts of pink flamingos, a protected migratory bird species, at rallies in Tirana.
Since late May, heavy machinery, including excavators, has mobilised in the area, creating access routes, excavating sand, clearing land among pine trees, and erecting fencing. Environmental organisations from Albania and across Europe have condemned this activity, with one prominent local group asserting that long-protected habitats are facing “irreversible destruction.”
Anti-corruption agency opens investigation
Albania’s state anti-corruption agency has confirmed that an investigation into the project has been initiated, although specific details have yet to be disclosed. The government asserts that the land designated for the project is privately owned. Nonetheless, conflicting claims surrounding the privatisation process have emerged, which is not uncommon in such legal disputes.
Prime Minister Rama has reiterated his commitment to the initiative, highlighting its alignment with Albania’s aspirations to become a prominent global tourism destination. He stated, “Albania should not shy away from extraordinary projects like this, especially when exceptional partners are uniting to invest €4 billion.”
Kushner’s similar project in Serbia
However, it is important to consider the challenges posed by a similar project that recently failed in Serbia, which serves as a relevant cautionary example.
In November, Serbia’s Parliament enacted a special law to facilitate the construction of a luxury complex in Belgrade, to be financed by an investment company associated with Jared Kushner. Subsequently, in December, the prosecutor for organised crime in Serbia charged four individuals, including a government minister, with abuse of office and document falsification linked to this development project.
Kushner later decided to withdraw from the proposed multi-million-dollar investment intended to replace an extensive, bombed-out military complex located within a designated heritage zone. It is noteworthy that the legal protections for this heritage zone were rescinded by former officials who are currently facing trial.
This article used information from The Associated Press.
