Albania’s anti-corruption prosecutor has opened an investigation into Jared Kushner’s Vjosa-Narta development deal and frozen the bank accounts of two project investors, Syrian brothers Moutaz and Ramez Al-Khayyat.
The probe targets a $1.6 billion plan to build a luxury resort on Sazan Island and in the protected Vjosa-Narta wetland, a project critics say was fast-tracked through a 2024 law allowing five-star resorts in protected areas.
Thousands of Albanians have staged nightly protests in Tirana for more than a month, demanding more transparency, repeal of the fast-track framework and Prime Minister Edi Rama’s resignation; some early-July clashes turned violent.
The backlash has widened beyond Kushner’s project into broader anger over coastal land sales, while the EU has warned the protected-area development could jeopardize Albania’s goal of joining the bloc by 2030.
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$4 Billion Kushner-Trump Resort in Albania Triggers Protests, EU Concerns, and National Reckoning on Corruption
Overview
In June 2026, a proposed luxury resort in Albania linked to Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump sparked mass protests and widespread public outcry. Demonstrations erupted in Tirana and near Vlora, with thousands rallying against not only the development but also deeper issues of government corruption and lack of transparency. Protesters adopted the pink flamingo as a symbol to highlight threats to the Vjosa-Narta wetland, a vital ecological area. The crisis quickly drew governmental and international attention, putting Albania’s environmental policies and EU ambitions under scrutiny, and revealing a broader movement demanding accountability and protection of national resources.