Albanian Protests Erupt Over Controversial Development Plans
WHO:
AP - Albanian police, protesters, U.S. President Donald Trump, Jared Kushner, Socialist Prime Minister Edi Rama, Interior Minister Besfort Lamallari, protester Agustela Thoma.
WHAT:
AP - Albanian police clashed with protesters during an anti-government demonstration.
AP - Police fired tear gas and pepper spray at protesters; 12 police officers were injured and 18 protesters were detained.
NBC News - Protests turned violent as demonstrators called for the prime minister to step down.
DW.com - Protests against a planned luxury resort linked to Trump’s family escalated, with police using tear gas and water cannons.
DW.com - The Sazan Island Resort, also known as "Kushner Island," was first unveiled in 2024.
WHERE:
AP - Protests occurred outside the Albanian parliament in Tirana.
DW.com - The planned resort is located in the ecologically protected area of Zvernec on Albania's southern coast.
WHEN:
DW.com - The latest wave of protests began this year after barbed-wire fencing and bulldozers appeared on a beach.
WHY:
AP - Protests were triggered by plans for a luxury development linked to Kushner, which protesters claim threatens the coast's fragile ecosystems, including a flamingo habitat.
NBC News - Demonstrators expressed opposition to the government's approval of the development project.
DW.com - Protests initially focused on environmental concerns but evolved into broader opposition against the government of Prime Minister Edi Rama.
HOW:
AP - Protesters hurled rocks, eggs, and plastic bottles at police and used part of a metal barrier to smash the windows of a police car.
AP - Police used tear gas, pepper spray, and a water cannon to disperse the crowd.
(UPDATED July 3, 2026 17:29 UTC)
In Tirana, Albania, police clashed with protesters during an anti-government demonstration that turned violent as demonstrators called for Prime Minister Edi Rama to step down. The protests were sparked by plans for a luxury resort linked to Trump's family, which protesters argue threatens the fragile ecosystems along the coast, including a flamingo habitat. As tensions escalated, police used tear gas and pepper spray to disperse the crowd, resulting in injuries to twelve officers and the detention of eighteen protesters.