Protests in Albania against Jared Kushner's planned luxury project on Sazan

The uninhabited island of Sazan is located off the coast of Vlora, where the Adriatic and Ionian Seas meet, and covers an area of approximately 5.7 square kilometers. It was formerly a restricted zone: Italy initially used the island as an outpost, and later it served as a submarine base and bunker island in communist Albania. The surrounding area of the Karaburun-Sazan Marine Park is home to rare plant species. According to government plans, Sazan is to be transformed into a glamorous tourist destination, with luxury hotels in the protected Vjosa-Narta area on the southern Adriatic coast.

The investment volume for the Sazan project is officially stated as approximately 1.4 billion euros, while insiders estimate its value at around 4 billion euros. According to government documents, construction plans envision development on 45 hectares. The Albanian state is to be involved through a joint venture. However, many details of the project remain unclear.

Environment and Coast: Conflicts over Vjosa-Narta

The protests also target areas in the vicinity of Zvërnec and Pishë Poro in the Vjosa-Narta landscape, which is home to lagoons, dunes, turtle nesting beaches, flamingos, pelicans, and monk seals. Critics accuse the government of endangering the environment and nature with the project.

At the end of May, clashes occurred between activists and private security personnel after barbed wire fences blocked access to a beach. Videos show demonstrators being beaten and dragged away. The police initiated proceedings against several individuals involved.

Government Reaction and Open Questions

Albania's Special Prosecutor's Office (SPAK) is also examining changes made in 2024 to the protection status and ownership issues of the Vjosa-Narta zone. Kushner's investment firm Affinity Partners also manages funds from the Middle East, including from Saudi Arabia. In Serbia, Kushner attempted to develop a bombed military site in Belgrade; this project also faced protests and legal questions.

Prime Minister Edi Rama told reporters on the sidelines of the EU-Western Balkans Summit in Montenegro that no final building application had been submitted yet and the environmental impact assessment had not been completed. "There is no approved project yet," Rama said. "First, we must have the project, then we must see it, then we must discuss it." Addressing Western media, he urged them to report "much more cautiously," adding, "There is no reason to worry as long as there is no project." Rama emphasized that "leading" experts were involved in the endeavor and the goal was to "create something unique."

Kushner and the Albanian government reject accusations of political favoritism. However, critics accuse Jared Kushner and his wife Ivanka Trump of using Donald Trump's presidency for their own business interests. The Trump family invests in luxury projects worldwide; Albania is an EU candidate country and has long sought to strengthen its economy through tourism.