The Balkans Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN) uncovered controversial business and political connections behind the US presidential family, including those linked to allegations of organized crime, judicial misconduct and one of Albania’s most influential oligarchs, Shefqet Kastrati.
Concerns grew into public outrage when workers began to build a concrete fence with barbed wire around the site near Zvërnec. They hired a private security company to protect him. They began to destroy dunes and Mediterranean pine forests with technology to make room for .
The protests initially started at the end of May in this locality. Local as well as environmental activists drew attention not only to encroachment on a protected area, but also to the fact that it is a land grab that will benefit foreign billionaires, oligarchs with political ties and the political elite that made this project possible.
During one of the peaceful gatherings of the participants, it was Kastrati’s bodyguards who attacked one of the protesters. The state police refused to intervene.
They also protest abroad
This prompted the spread of protests, and within 24 hours, the movement under the slogan “Albania is not for sale” began to spread not only to other cities, but also abroad. Since then, thousands of residents have been protesting almost every day – in the capital Tirana, in large and small cities and in other foreign capitals where large Albanian communities are located.
What initially started as just a protest against the construction has expanded into criticism of the current government. The rallies bring together groups from across the political spectrum—not just environmental activists, but also leftists, representatives of all four faith communities, feminist groups, and even conservatives, nationalists, and right-wing individuals.
Generation Z in particular became the symbol of the protest together with the flamingo, which is one of the endangered species living in the area. This protest revolution is named after flamingos.
Prime Minister Rama has publicly downplayed the ongoing protests, saying the concerns are unfounded. In the interview, he pointed out that this project changes Albania from a country that investors have avoided for a long time, to a state “to which big capital and big investors want to come”.
In the interview, he claims that he was elected in the country to implement projects. “I tell you, it will be a wonderful project, we will implement it and we will be proud to contribute to the development of Europe,” Rama said during an interview in his office, just a few meters from where demonstrations against the project take place every night.
The European Commission intervenes
However, he also received criticism from the European Commission. Albania is one of the countries that could join the European Union by 2030 – but it also depends on how it aligns with European legislation and environmental protection.
“Albania should refrain from taking steps that could jeopardize the fulfillment of the final criterion and we expect the Albanian authorities to act without delay,” spokesman Guillaume Mercier said. “We are in contact with the Albanian authorities,” he added.
At the same time, the Albanian Prime Minister indicates that some of the criticism of the project may be influenced by external factors. In context, he mentioned Iran’s long-term cyber campaign against Albania. He emphasized that he does not blame the protesters themselves for acting on behalf of foreign states.
Affinity Partners, which is owned by Kushner and is slated to build the center, did not respond to requests for comment. The only one came from Sazan Real Estate Development LLC, which is developing the plans in partnership with Kushner’s firm. In it, they claim that they will act responsibly towards the environment.
