Protests in Albania intensify over Trump family-linked resort development
Agence France-Presse, Zvërnec, June 6 — Activists and local residents in Albania flocked to the Vjosa-Narta lagoon, a coastal wetland in the south, at noon today, responding to an appeal by environmental groups. The protected area lies approximately 150 kilometers southwest of Tirana.
This marks the latest in a series of actions opposing the resort development project linked to Ivanka Trump, daughter of U.S. President Donald Trump, and her husband Jared Kushner, estimated to require an investment of 400 million euros.
Emiljona Puja, a protester working in finance, said, "The entire marine area is a protected zone; damaging it would deliver a fatal blow to local biodiversity."
Protesters gathered on the sandy beaches beside the azure waters, waving red Albanian flags and holding inflatable red herons symbolizing the movement, shouting: "Cancel the plan!"
Later in the afternoon, a large-scale demonstration took place in central Tirana—the largest so far—where crowds marched toward government institutions carrying signs reading “Ivanka, Come Home” and “Albania Is Not for Sale.”
Earlier in late May, developers erected barbed wire fences around the protected area in preparation for construction, sparking immediate unrest and protests, which led to the removal of the fencing.
After seeing videos online of beach construction sites and bulldozers, many citizens rushed to the location—but today, no heavy machinery was present. Media observers on-site noted that previously constructed concrete foundation walls had also been dismantled.
For nearly a week, thousands of protesters have gathered nightly in Tirana, condemning the destruction of vast protected areas being transformed into luxury tourist destinations.
The developer also plans to convert the uninhabited Sazan Island—a former secret military base—into a tourist attraction.
The lagoon reserve along the southern Adriatic Sea hosts a variety of migratory birds, including the red heron.
Denisa Kasa from the Albanian Society for Nature Conservation (PPNEA) stated: "This isn't just about transparency in the process; the planning completely disregards the ecological importance of this region."
Kasa added: "This area is one of the most significant biodiversity hotspots in the Mediterranean."
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama downplayed the protests yesterday, insisting there was "no reason to worry" and emphasizing that the plan has not yet been approved.
Rama maintained that the project involves some of the world’s "top" experts, with the goal of creating something truly unique.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1867358655961091/
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