Albania Probes $126 Million Kushner-Backed Resort Land Sale Over Forged Deeds
Updated
Updated · Al Jazeera English · Jul 11
Albania Probes $126 Million Kushner-Backed Resort Land Sale Over Forged Deeds
3 articles · Updated · Al Jazeera English · Jul 11
Summary
$126 million tied to the sale of protected Albanian coastline for a Kushner-backed resort has been frozen as anticorruption prosecutors investigate whether the land deeds were forged.
SPAK’s 200-page case files name Miami-based seller Artur Shehu and allege cocaine-trafficking proceeds were funneled into Albanian property through falsified titles; Shehu’s lawyer denied all allegations and said the sale was lawful.
Reuters said it found no evidence Jared Kushner, Sazan Real Estate Development or other project backers knew of suspicions around Shehu when the land changed hands in April.
The disclosure adds to pressure on a resort project that has sparked nightly protests since May over development on wetlands and beaches, with demonstrations widening into anti-corruption calls for Prime Minister Edi Rama’s resignation.
The land is already under a separate decade-long ownership challenge from nearby villagers, while Rama’s government says the project complies with Albanian and EU law.
Did Albania alter its laws to greenlight a resort on protected land linked to alleged money laundering and powerful investors?
With land deeds allegedly forged by a drug trafficker, what is the true legal foundation for this billion-euro coastal resort?
Vjosa-Narta Lagoon Uprising: Kushner’s $128 Million Resort, Land Fraud, and Albania’s Fight for Democracy
Overview
The luxury resort project in the Vjosa-Narta Lagoon has sparked major controversy in Albania, leading to a sweeping investigation by the Special Prosecution Against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK) into possible criminal wrongdoing during land acquisitions. This probe, which looks into complex schemes involving property transactions, has fueled widespread public protests and given rise to the 'Flamingo Revolution,' a grassroots movement demanding transparency and environmental protection. The situation has grown beyond a single development dispute, becoming a crucial test for Albania’s institutions, legal system, and commitment to both environmental safeguards and public trust.