Protests in Albania over a proposed luxury resort backed by Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, are set to intensify after opponents rejected an offer from the country’s prime minister “to discuss solutions”.
On the fourth day of protests against the development project in Zvërnec, thousands of citizens once again gathered in the square, while the police intervened by using water cannons and tear gas spray against demonstrators.
Despite efforts to disperse the crowd, protesters managed to break through the police cordon and forced the security forces to retreat.
The demands of the protest expanded beyond opposition to the project in the Pishë-Poro-Nartë Protected Landscape. Citizens called for the government’s resignation, the repeal of the Strategic Investments Law, the reversal of amendments to the Protected Areas Law, as well as the cancellation of what is known as the “Mountains Package”.
Eidon Kita, a young participant in the protest, told Citizens.al that he was demonstrating because Albania belongs to its citizens.
“Albania is not for sale. Albania has no owner; Albania belongs to all Albanians, and Albanians will not stop until this comes to an end,” he said.
For Besjana Guri, an environmental activist and director of the LUMI Centre, it is significant that an increasing number of citizens are recognising the importance of protecting nature.
“We have often become accustomed to having protected areas that exist only on paper, and even though we have repeatedly raised concerns, this was one of the most aggressive interventions ever carried out in a protected area. It is extremely important for people to raise their voices, for the resistance to continue, and for our demands to be met,” Guri told Citizens.al.
According to her, even if the number of protesters declines in the coming days, the demands remain clear.
“Vjosa–Narta must not be touched. Vjosa–Narta should be granted a higher level of protection, ideally national park status, and be united with the Vjosa, because we see it as an integral and inseparable part of the Vjosa Wild River National Park,” Guri said.
One of the protesters, Mario Kuçi, told Citizens.al that the initial reason he joined the protest was his opposition to the concrete overdevelopment of protected areas and construction within them.
“However, especially after seeing footage of private security personnel and unidentified individuals using violence against protesters, the cause has gone beyond that. I believe this is now about defending democracy itself and the Albanian state from this oligarchic group that has already seized control of all the key levers of power in Albania, while the government is entirely at their service,” Kuçi declared.
Denisa Kasa, an environmental activist and member of the organisation PPNEA, highlighted the years of work carried out by organisations to raise public awareness about what is happening in Zvërnec and other protected areas.
“The reason this has happened is the amendment of the law in 2024. Since then, parts of protected areas have begun to be privatised, sold off, and subsequently destroyed in order to build resorts and various tourist residences,” Kasa stated.
She added that an area is designated as protected because of characteristics that distinguish it from others, such as high biodiversity, wildlife, and its role as an ecological corridor.
The protest also featured slogans directed against the old political establishment, including: “Rama to prison, Berisha to prison!”
Meanwhile, Zvërnec is now under investigation by SPAK. The Special Anti-Corruption Structure is examining the origin of the property and the funds used to purchase the land.
This development has been welcomed by Prime Minister Edi Rama, who stated that he considers the verification process regarding the land purchase transaction in Zvërnec to be a positive step.
“I regard the verification process concerning the land purchase transaction in Zvërnec as positive. It means achieving full and final clarification regarding the origin of the funds transferred through the banking system, as well as the definitive clearing of the investors, who are now also the landowners,” Rama said.
(Citizens.al, The Guardian, 04.06.2026)
https://citizens.al/2026/06/03/protesta-per-narten-zgjerohet-qytetaret-cajne-kordonin-policor/
Photo credits: AFP/Getty, Hameraldi Agolli/AP Photo