Protesters in Albania oppose luxury resort project
Protesters in Albania oppose luxury resort project
Updated at: June 7, 2026 at 08:00 AM
In June 2026, Albania has been swept by a wave of protests known as the 'Flamingo Revolution.'
Citizens in Tirana and coastal Zvërnec are gathering to oppose a massive $1.6 billion luxury resort project led by Affinity Partners, a firm linked to Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump.
The plan involves transforming Sazan Island and the protected Vjosa-Narta landscape into a tourism hub with 10,000 hotel rooms and villas.
Environmentalists warn that this construction poses an existential threat to delicate ecosystems, including habitats for Mediterranean monk seals and flamingos.
Protesters, using the slogan 'Albania is Not For Sale,' argue that the government lacks transparency and has suspiciously relaxed coastal protections to favor developers.
The iconic pink flamingo has emerged as the movement's symbol, representing the urgent need to protect the region's wildlife from irreversible damage.
