Albania's PM Edi Rama Defends Jared Kushner Resort Projects Amid Protests
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama faces protests over luxury resort plans by Jared Kushner on protected coastline. In a Monocle interview, Rama dismissed demonstrators as a minority, defended Kushner as a respectful investor, and argued Albania needs high-end tourism over mass tourism. Protests erupted after security guards assaulted a local man in May, with video going viral. Rama insists the country must move beyond unsustainable mass tourism, which accounts for a quarter of GDP. Local critics like artist Driton Selmani and gallery founder Elian Stefa question who will benefit. Protester Baki Goxhaj decries privatization of public beaches. The government granted Kushner 'strategic investor' status for projects at Zvernec and Sazan island, both in environmentally protected areas.
Key facts
- Jared Kushner is behind two resort projects on the Albanian coast at Zvernec and Sazan island.
- The Albanian government granted Kushner 'strategic investor' status for luxury development in an environmentally protected area.
- Protests gained traction in May 2026 after security guards assaulted a local man at one of the sites.
- Prime Minister Edi Rama defended Kushner as 'respectful to our country' and wanting to do 'everything by the book'.
- Rama stated mass tourism is 'not sustainable for nature, the air, the water' and called for 'fewer tourists but more money'.
- Tourism accounts for about a quarter of Albania's GDP.
- Artist Driton Selmani and curator Elian Stefa expressed skepticism about benefits for locals.
- Protester Baki Goxhaj said 7km of public beach was fenced off for a private beach.
Entities
Artists
- Driton Selmani
Institutions
- Monocle
- Regina Group
- Galeria e Bregdetit
- Vila 31
Locations
- Albania
- Tirana
- Vlora
- Zvernec
- Sazan
- Narta lagoon
- Albanian Riviera
Sources
- Monocle —