Protests in Albania continue against Kushner-linked luxury resort : NPR

Key Points:

• Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner plan to build a luxury resort on a protected Albanian coastline near Sazan Island, sparking widespread protests in Tirana against Prime Minister Edi Rama's government for approving the project.
• Environmentalists warn the development threatens a vital ecological area, Vjose-Narte, home to hundreds of bird species, and violates international protections under EU Natura 2000 treaties, which Albania is supposed to uphold as an EU candidate.
• Legal challenges have been filed against the project, citing a 2024 Albanian law that removed protections for the area to allow construction, raising concerns about corruption and potential violations of both Albanian and EU laws.
• Investigations reveal complex ownership structures involving shell companies linked to Kushner and Trump’s project, with some investors remaining anonymous, complicating transparency and accountability.
• Many Albanians oppose the resort, viewing it as privatization of public land and a threat to local access and livelihoods, while the government insists the project aims for sustainable development and economic growth.