Villagers' Letter Shows Prior Dispute Over Land Planned for Kushner-Backed Resort

Villagers from the Zvërnec peninsula on Albania’s coast wrote to Jared Kushner’s development company in 2022, warning that the land slated for a $1.4 billion luxury resort was the subject of long-standing court battles. The letter said the property had been taken by Artur Shehu, a figure accused by prosecutors of forging Ottoman-era deeds and of involvement in money-laundering and drug-trafficking schemes.

Despite the warning, Kushner’s Sazan Real Estate completed a purchase from Shehu. The firm’s chairman, Asher Abehsera, told the Wall Street Journal that the company had not been aware of any dispute. In a statement to the Daily Beast, Abehsera said the resort would “celebrate Albania’s natural beauty, create jobs, and build something future generations can be proud of.” A company spokesperson added that the land acquisitions were “conducted lawfully and in accordance with applicable procedures.”

Local opposition has grown after bulldozers and fencing appeared on the beaches in May, and a video showing private security personnel assaulting a villager circulated online. Village leader Kostaq Konomi told the Journal that he wants his land returned. Environmental groups also object, citing potential damage to the uninhabited island’s ecosystem. In December 2024, Albania’s parliament amended legislation to allow construction in protected areas, a move criticized by opposition leader Sali Berisha and conservation executive Aleksandër Trajçe, who described the process as lacking transparency.

The controversy has drawn international attention, including comments from pop star Dua Lipa, who expressed concern over the government’s ability to alter environmental protections without public consultation. Ivanka Trump, speaking on a podcast, said she wanted to “transform” the island with “restraint” after a personal visit.

A Kushner spokesperson declined to comment on the matter.