Hundreds of thousands of Albanians have taken to the streets in a nationwide movement dubbed the 'flamingo revolution', as plans by Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump to construct a luxury resort on a protected nature reserve spark widespread outrage. The proposed development, situated on Sazan island, a former military base, has become the focal point of the most significant public demonstrations in Albania since the collapse of communism.
The controversy deepened after Ivanka Trump reportedly spoke of 'discovering' Sazan island in 2021 during a podcast interview, an anecdote widely criticised as tone-deaf and dismissive of local sentiment. The island's status as public property and its ecological significance have been ignored by the project's backers, critics argue, who prioritise private profit over environmental preservation and public access to national heritage sites.
Jared Kushner's real estate ambitions in Albania date back to 2025, when Atlantic Incubation Partners, an LLC linked to Kushner, was granted 'strategic investor' status by the Albanian government. However, the recent protests underscore a growing public backlash against the perceived lack of transparency and potential environmental consequences of the development, which includes luxury resorts on Sazan island and Zvërnec peninsula.
The anti-corruption agency has launched an investigation into Kushner's project, scrutinising the circumstances surrounding the alleged disappearance of the land's protected status. A report by the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network has also highlighted a complex network of companies and individuals involved in the development, with some reportedly having questionable backgrounds. These revelations have added to the mounting pressure on the government.
The widespread anger has led some Albanians to call for Prime Minister Edi Rama's resignation, but he has dismissed the criticism as 'ideological nonsense', accusing international media of using Albania to attack the Trump administration. His stance has done little to quell the protests, which continue to highlight broader concerns about foreign investment, environmental protection, and governance in the country.