Albanian Prime Minister Defends Kushner Resort Plans Amid Large Protest
A half-mile protest in Albania targeted a proposed luxury resort on Sazan Island backed by Jared Kushner, while the prime minister reiterated support for the project and promised an environmental review.
A protest stretching about half a mile along a main boulevard in Albania on Wednesday opposed a planned luxury resort on Sazan Island backed by former U.S. official Jared Kushner. The demonstration is the largest to date against the development, which is part of a broader $6 billion investment that also includes a coastal resort in Zvernec.
Prime Minister Edi Rama told Reuters that the project will be "a beautiful project" and that his government is committed to protecting wildlife and nature, adding that the European Commission has no reason to doubt Albania’s environmental safeguards. Rama said he was elected to implement such initiatives and would not be swayed by opposition groups.
Kushner’s firm, Affinity Partners, has not yet submitted a final plan, and any opening of the resorts could be up to a decade away. European officials have raised concerns that the development may not meet environmental criteria required for Albania’s EU accession negotiations, which could conclude as early as 2027.
The Sazan Island project was approved by the Albanian government in December 2024, shortly after the country’s presidential election. Critics have linked Kushner’s involvement to broader questions about foreign influence and the use of his firm in international deals.
