An extensive Financial Times investigation detailed escalating political and social tensions in Albania over a planned luxury tourism development linked to Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump on protected coastal land near Sazan Island and the Zvernec peninsula.
The newspaper said the project has become a focal point of protests and environmental concern, with critics warning it could damage one of the Adriatic’s last largely undeveloped coastal ecosystems.
“For two decades, this stretch of Albania’s coast was a natural sanctuary beloved by migratory birds,” the Financial Times wrote, describing the area as a key habitat for flamingos and other wildlife.
The report said the proposed development includes hotels, villas, apartments, retail space, a golf course, marina and other large-scale facilities. It cited a 97-page “vision plan” outlining more than 700,000 square meters of built space and extensive infrastructure, including luxury amenities such as a casino and yacht club.
Prime Minister Edi Rama has defended legal changes allowing “five-star or higher” tourism projects in protected zones, telling critics that environmental safeguards and impact assessments remain in place. Opponents, however, argue the policy effectively opens sensitive areas to overdevelopment.
