The protesters are demanding the withdrawal of the project and the resignation of the Prime Minister. During the demonstration, slogans were shouted: “Traitor, coward, resign as soon as possible”, “Edi Rama, you thief” and carried banners “The homeland is not for sale” and “Albania is not for sale”, Albanian media reported.
Albanians are protesting in the capital Tirana against the construction of a seaside tourist complex planned by a company linked to Kushner.
The project involves the construction of hotels on the uninhabited island of Sazan and in the protected coastal area of Vjosa-Narta, a wetland in the southern municipality of Zvernec that is home to flamingos, seals and sea turtles.
Prime Minister Edi Rama denies the allegations
In a statement issued on Wednesday, he said that “it is very important that Albania remains hospitable, honest and that it avoids the stigma of a country where investors face hostility.”
The protests in Tirana, which continue for a fifth day in a row, follow Saturday's demonstration in Zvernec, where dozens of people protested in front of a fenced-off beach area. Private security guards attacked and injured several protesters, leading to the suspension of several police officers and the revocation of the licenses of two private security companies.
Kushner revealed a plan to build a luxury resort in 2024, and earlier this year he visited the region with his wife Ivanka Trump. An investment company linked to Kushner received special investor status from the Albanian authorities.
