Full Breakdown
Albanian Luxury Resort Project by Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump Sparks Land Dispute and Environmental Protests
6/15/2026, 2:51:56 AM
Project Overview
The $1.4 billion Sazan Island resort and $4.7 billion Zvërnec coastline hotel, promoted by Jared Kushner, Ivanka Trump and Sazan Real Estate Development LLC, target Albania’s Adriatic coast near Vlora. Villagers claim the land was sold illegally, prompting protests and warnings about damage to the wetland’s flamingos, sea turtles and seals.
Legal Background
In 2013 an Albanian court affirmed the villagers’ ownership of the Zvërnec plots. The ruling was appealed by Artur Shehu, a Miami-based businessman who asserts Ottoman-era family ownership. Shehu, who fled Albania in 1999 after a bar-fight that left two dead, has faced Italian investigations for alleged organized-crime links, though no charges have been filed.
Official Statements
Prime Minister Edi Rama told Reuters the development complies with law, that a building permit has not yet been issued and that media have exaggerated protest size. Asher Abehsera, chairman of Sazan Real Estate Development LLC, said the project aims to celebrate Albania’s natural beauty, create jobs and leave a lasting legacy for future generations. Kushner’s firm and Ivanka Trump declined comment.
Opposition, Environmental Concerns, and On-the-Ground Action
Conservation NGOs warn the project threatens flamingo colonies, sea-turtle nests and seal habitats. Aleksandr Trajce said the dispute has become “a citizen thing” beyond ecology. Villagers say black-uniformed guards erected barbed-wire fences blocking seafront access; 81-year-old Kostaq Konomi said he was ready to “shoot.” About 200 protesters on June 13 tore down the fences, injuring several people in clashes with private security before the barriers were removed.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Albanian officials maintain the parcels are privately owned and that the project follows legal procedures, while villagers cite the 2013 court ruling confirming their ownership. Media differ on whether a building permit exists; some say none has been issued, others note construction has not begun. Kushner’s involvement is described as a personal investment by some sources and as an Affinity Partners venture by others, with no evidence of wrongdoing found.
Verbatim Quotes
"I was a small boy when I put my feet in that water. Now I am an old man, and they say I cannot." — Kostaq Konomi, resident of Zvërnec
"I was ready to get a rifle and start shooting." — Kostaq Konomi, resident of Zvërnec
"People with land there, or who work on land there, suddenly couldn’t get to it." — Aleksandr Trajce, executive director, conservation group
"Just because there is a court trial does not automatically mean that the property is frozen." — Prime Minister Edi Rama
What’s Next
Villagers intend to seek a court order to halt construction while the appeal proceeds. The European Union has pledged to monitor the site’s ecological impact. Project timelines remain uncertain pending legal outcomes.
