Albanian Police Use Water Cannon on Third Day of Protests Against Kushner-Backed Sazan Island Resort

Police fired water cannon at demonstrators in Tirana on Wednesday as thousands marched for a third consecutive day against a proposed luxury resort backed by Jared Kushner’s firm Affinity Partners. The protests center on a development planned for Albania’s largest island, Sazan, along with surrounding wetlands and coastal habitats inside a marine national park.

Some participants carried inflatable flamingos to highlight the environmental damage they fear the project would cause.

Opponents rejected an offer from Albania’s prime minister to discuss solutions, and further demonstrations are expected to intensify. Footage of the clashes circulated widely on social media. Ivanka Trump visited the site in January with a team of architects.

The visit occurred months before the current wave of street protests began. The Guardian reported that the project has drawn growing calls for it to be blocked on environmental grounds.