Thousands protest in Albania against Kushner real estate project

Some held banners that read “Edi Rama resigns,” while others drew pictures of Albania’s socialist prime minister handing keys to Ivanka Trump, the daughter of the U.S. president.

Demonstrators argue that an estimated $1.2 billion project led by Kushner and his wife Ivanka to build a luxury hotel in the Vjosa-Nalta reserve on the south coast will harm the environment.

Developers also hope to transform Sazan Island, a former secret communist military base, into a glitzy tourist attraction, according to plans unveiled two years ago.

Protests have intensified in recent days after security guards assaulted a man near the reserve and videos emerged of preparations for construction and bulldozing on the beach.

Demonstrators want to repeal the Strategic Investors Law, which is intended to speed up certain projects, and reverse changes to the Protected Areas Act that would allow hotel complexes to be built in protected areas.

22% of Albania’s territory is designated as a protected area.

Luciana Kokaj, a 31-year-old human rights activist, explained that she owned a property in northern Albania that a “major investor” was trying to seize with a fake title to the property.

“But this goes beyond my personal interests: this is about protecting Albania for our children,” she told AFP at the protest.

Demonstrator Etleva Melko said protesters “are not against development in Albania”, rebutting accusations made by Prime Minister Rama in recent days.

“We support development, we support transparency and we oppose construction in protected areas,” she insisted.

On Tuesday, the Office of the Special Prosecutor to Combat Corruption and Organized Crime said it had launched an investigation into the project, but gave no details.

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