UMVA has learned that thousands of Albanians took to the streets in the capital city, Tirana, to protest a massive coastal resort project linked to a prominent US presidential family member's associate, sparking fears for the country's most sensitive coastal areas.
The demonstrations, which have now entered their third day, saw protesters gather outside the office of Prime Minister Edi Rama, holding signs that read "Albania is not for sale" and "Nation is not for sale." The protesters' demands are clear: they want the government to halt the development of a luxury tourism project on the uninhabited island of Sazan and in the Vjosa-Narta protected landscape near Zvernec.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that the project, estimated to be worth around €1.4 billion, or roughly $1.6 billion, involves plans for a large luxury tourism development, including hotel complexes and as many as 10,000 hotel rooms. Environmental groups, local residents, and opposition voices have joined forces to demand that the government scrap the plans, citing risks to biodiversity and damage to one of Albania's most important coastal landscapes.
The development has been linked to a prominent US presidential family member's associate's investment firm, and plans were made public in 2024 for major projects in Albania. The area set for development includes wetlands, beaches, and habitats used by flamingos, seals, and sea turtles, sparking concerns among environmentalists.
Sources have confirmed to UMVA that around 40 environmental groups previously called for the plans to be suspended, citing risks to biodiversity and damage to one of Albania's most important coastal landscapes. "We want all construction to halt and heavy machines out of the protected area," said an ecologist with a leading environmental group. "This would be a new city with around 10,000 rooms and it will completely destroy that wild region."
The protests intensified after large barbed-wire fences were installed near the proposed site in Zvernec, blocking local access to the beach. Tensions escalated when private security guards clashed with demonstrators at the site, and footage reportedly showed guards assaulting and dragging a protester near a cliff.
Following the incident, Albanian authorities revoked the licenses of two private security companies, and one guard was arrested and detained, while several police officers were suspended or removed from duties. The clashes have broadened the controversy from an environmental dispute into a debate over public access, policing, private security, and the influence of foreign-backed development projects.
UMVA has gathered that Albania's special anti-corruption prosecution office has opened an investigation related to the project, examining land titles, funding used to acquire property, and changes to the area's protected status. The probe concerns controversial changes that helped open the door to tourism development in the area.
Developers involved in the project have said they intend to proceed responsibly, citing a focus on environmental enhancement, job creation, and creating long-term value for local communities. However, Prime Minister Rama has defended the project as part of his broader effort to turn Albania into a more competitive tourism destination.
Rama has argued that the country should remain open to investors while maintaining fairness and institutional procedures. He has denied that the project encroaches on a protected wildlife reserve and said a final proposal had not yet been submitted and that the environmental study had not been completed.
