Za "Time" from Tirana
Saturday, May 30, was supposed to be the start of just an ordinary weekend at Albania. Instead, a group of environmental activists organized a protest in Zvernec, a community near the city of Valona, located about 170 kilometers south of Tirana.
At first everything seemed calm. Demonstration they received almost no attention from the local media. But around noon the situation changes dramatically. One activist records a video showing a barbed wire fence, several masked men in civilian clothes and muscular individuals violently dragging and attacking a protester in his fifties. The video also shows how police officers stand just a few meters from the disturbing scene and, surprisingly, do not intervene.
Within a few hours, this video spread on social networks through the accounts of activists and journalists and reached millions of views.
On Sunday afternoon (May 31st), thousands of citizens gathered in Tirana to protest the violence and demand a halt to a controversial development project in Zvernets - believed by many to be linked to Jared Kushner, son-in-law of United States President Donald Trump.
Demonstrations continue and at the time of this writing have lasted for more than ten consecutive days.
AT THE CENTER OF CONTROVERSY
A few months before Donald Trump was first elected US president in 2016, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama was one of the few world leaders who openly criticized him. In an interview with CNN, Rama, who was prime minister for only three years at the time, said that "Donald Trump is a threat to America."
Few could have imagined that years later Rama, through the proposed project "Zvernec South Adriatic Resort" ("Zvërnec South Adriatic Resort") - a large tourist complex planned for the Narta lagoon, part of the Vjos-Narta protected landscape - would become a close ally of President Trump and his family.
According to the research of the website Balkan Insight, the company "Zvërnec South Adriatic Development", registered in the Netherlands, received permission to develop a resort construction project with an area of approximately 1,3 million square meters. The company is run by a network of shell corporations. Although the ultimate owners have not been officially named, the media linked the project to Jared Kushner and two Qatari billionaires. Local journalistic investigations also suggest links with the influential Albanian businessman Shefket Kastrati.
The development plans extend beyond Zvernec. In January 2025, the Albanian government granted the status of "strategic investment" to a project worth 1,4 billion euros, whose goal is to transform Sazan Island into a luxury tourist destination. The government claimed that the investment meets all legal criteria and will create around 1000 jobs. Sazan, an uninhabited island located at the entrance to the Strait of Otranto, previously served as a military base and was owned by the Albanian army until December 2024.
Meanwhile, Kushner's company proposed another development project – in Narta. The documents obtained by journalists contain contracts involving more than 2,5 million square meters of land in Zvernec and Narta. Some of these properties are linked to businessman Arthur Shehu and former judge Alauddin Malay, who have been embroiled in legal disputes over alleged forgery and illegal transfer of assets.
The environmental issue is only part of the controversy. The protected landscape of Vjosa-Narta is home to more than 200 species of birds, including flamingos and Dalmatian pelicans, as well as endangered Mediterranean seals. Zvernec itself has coastal dunes and Mediterranean pine forests.
Environmental activists claim that the project threatens one of Albania's most pristine coastal ecosystems. Investors, however, promise "responsible management, environmental improvement, job creation and long-term value for local communities".
This stark contrast between corporate promises and environmental concerns has become a key feature of public debates.
photo: ap photo...
"ALBANIA IS NOT FOR SALE"
Large protests in Albania are traditionally organized by opposition political parties, especially the Democratic Party, which switched to the opposition when Rama came to power in 2013. However, the images of the violence in Zvernec quickly spread on the Internet and mobilized thousands of people. Their motivation lies in something much broader than environmental problems.
In addition to flamingos and wetlands, protesters began to talk about low pensions, a health system on the verge of collapse, mass emigration and corruption. There is a widespread feeling that the state no longer serves ordinary citizens.
What began as an environmental protest developed into a broad expression of public discontent. Every afternoon, the streets of Tirana are filled with protesters chanting against both Rama's government and opposition leader Salji Berisha.
The protest against construction in Zvernec soon transformed into a broader opposition to corruption and the general model of government in Albania, as well as the belief that projects worth billions of euros on the coast will benefit only the privileged, and will be inaccessible to ordinary citizens.
Thousands of people gather every day at 18 pm in front of the prime minister's office under the slogan: "Albania is not for sale."
The protesters are demanding the complete suspension of the project and the resignation of Prime Minister Rama. They accuse the government of handing over public and private assets to oligarchs linked to the centers of political power. Albanian flags, banners with flamingo motifs and anti-corruption slogans have become common symbols of the movement.
By Albanian standards, these protests are unusual. They are not run by political parties and there is no single demand, but have become a platform for a wide range of complaints.
For some, protecting the lagoon is an issue. For others, it is the failure of the police to intervene during the violence. Many simply see the protests as an opportunity to say "enough" to a government they perceive as increasingly arrogant.
This diversity in the motivations of the participants can make it difficult to suppress the movement.
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TOURIST VISION OR POLITICAL CRISIS?
Prime Minister Edi Rama has faced a series of political crises in recent years. Several of his former allies are under investigation by Albania's Special Anti-Corruption Structure (SPAK).
Rama strongly defends the project. In his address to the public, he reiterates that this investment is proof of Albania's transformation from what he calls a "Stalinist state" into a luxury tourist destination. He insisted that the project will not be stopped while he is in office.
Rama called on the protesters for dialogue and stressed the importance of making foreign investors feel welcome, warning that hostility towards international capital could damage Albania's reputation.
At the same time, he and several of his allies launched a public campaign questioning the legitimacy of the protests. He initially suggested that the demonstrations were influenced by Greek interests. He later said they were supported by radical Muslim groups opposed to Israel. He recently claimed that Iran was behind the movement.
Due to these accusations, the spokesman of the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Esmail Baghej, spoke out on June 8: "Iran is being used as an excuse to avoid responsibility before the Albanian people. These accusations are part of a recurring pattern used by governments seeking closer ties with the Zionist regime. Instead of responding to the legitimate demands of citizens, the Albanian authorities choose to make ridiculous accusations against Iran."
In a June 7 statement, Rama criticized bloggers, influencers and activists, accusing them of using the protests to boost their online presence and gain popularity on social media.
Rama claims that the opposition to the Zvernec and Sazan projects is based on "imaginary projects" and unfounded fears, and that the government remains committed to continuing the planned investments. Critics, however, claim that Prime Minister Rama is underestimating the growing political storm directed not only against the project but also against Rama's style of rule.
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WHERE THE PROTESTS COULD LEAD
These protests have already lasted longer than most civil movements initiated in Albania in the last decade.
Some observers believe that as the initial flywheel declines, they may gradually weaken. Still others suggest that the protests could develop into a wider political movement, which could reshape the Albanian political landscape.
Additional pressure on the state comes from the Special Structure for Combating Corruption (SPAK), which has reportedly opened an investigation into legal changes and licensing procedures related to these projects.
One thing is clear for now: these protests are no longer only about nature protection. They have become a test for Albanian democracy, for the ability of institutions to balance public and private interests, and for the role of citizens in decision-making processes. If the government proceeds with the project without proper consultation, it risks facing a sustained civil revolt that could call into question not only the future of these projects but also the broader legitimacy of its governance model.
Voices from the protests
Afrime Alijaj-Pjetri, a 30-year-old mother from Durrës, a city about 40 kilometers from Tirana, demonstrates almost every day with her family. As he stands on Tirana's main boulevard, he explains why he is there:
"Today I protest for my daughters, so that in ten years they don't live in a society where they are forced to deny who they are. That they can grow up free, safe and proud of themselves. I protest for education, health care and dignity."
Another protester, Mariglen Dochi, 33, said simply:
"I protest for the removal of the most corrupt government in Europe."
