Kushner-Backed €4bn Tourism Project to Develop Sazan and Zvernec in Albania

Protests have taken place nightly in central Tirana in front of Prime Minister Edi Rama's office since the end of May 2026. Demonstrators oppose a proposed luxury resort on Sazan island and a site at Zvernec near Vlora, with Affinity Partners listed as one investor. The project would include roughly 10,000 rooms, according to ecologist Joni Vorpsi.

Protesters carried placards calling for the imprisonment of opposition Democratic Party leader Sali Berisha and used a pink flamingo as their emblem. " Thousands marched through Tirana for a third consecutive day on Wednesday, rejecting an offer from Rama to discuss solutions. Joni Vorpsi, an ecologist with PPNEA-BirdLife Albania, said the development would destroy the protected wetlands.

"We want all construction to halt and heavy machines out of the protected area," he said. Vorpsi added that the project would completely destroy the wild region. The government stated the land is privately owned and was acquired transparently.

Prime Minister Edi Rama welcomed Kushner's interest and said the project would deliver a €4bn investment along with jobs and improved infrastructure. Rama described the protesters as well-meaning but misinformed about environmental impacts and called the demonstrations part of a hybrid war prompted by regional competition in Mediterranean tourism.

Negotiations between Affinity Partners and the Albanian government began in 2024.

Jared Kushner's business partner Asher Abehsera said the project focus remains on responsible stewardship, environmental enhancement, job creation, and long-term value for local communities. Kushner withdrew earlier in 2026 from a separate plan to build a Trump International Hotel in Belgrade after a government minister was arrested for abuse of office in connection with that project.

Rama published a public rebuke to former Greek Prime Minister Aleksis Tsipras amid accusations that Greece is fomenting the Albanian protests.