A luxury resort project backed by Jared Kushner, Donald Trump's son-in-law, has ignited a firestorm of protests in Albania, with activists calling on British investors to sever ties. The development, a sprawling complex on the Albanian Riviera, has been accused of land grabs, environmental destruction, and strong-arming locals out of their property. Sources close to the protests confirm that thousands have taken to the streets in Vlorë, waving placards and blocking construction vehicles. 'They are stealing our coast,' one organiser told me. 'This is not development. It is colonisation.'
The project, known as the 'Vlorë International Resort,' is a joint venture between Kushner's Affinity Partners and a shadowy Albanian development firm. Documents obtained by this newsroom reveal that the Albanian government granted special tax breaks and fast-tracked permits, bypassing standard environmental reviews. Critics say the deal reeks of cronyism, given Kushner's proximity to power and the Albanian prime minister's close ties to the Trump administration.
British investors, including a London-based hedge fund and a property development group, have been named as key backers. Activist groups are now pressuring them to withdraw, threatening public shaming campaigns. 'British money is making this possible,' said a spokesperson for the Albanian Coastal Defence League. 'If they don't pull out, they will be complicit in the destruction of our heritage.'
I spoke with a retired fisherman named Luan who has lived on the coast for 60 years. His family home, a stone cottage overlooking the bay, is slated for demolition. 'They offered me 500 euros,' he said. 'Five hundred euros for a home my grandfather built.' He wiped his eyes with a calloused hand. 'What can I do? They have lawyers. They have guns.'
The environmental toll is already visible. A leaked hydrological study warns that the construction will drain the region's freshwater aquifer, threatening agricultural land. The resort's 18-hole golf course demands 4 million litres of water daily in a region already suffering from drought. 'This is a water heist,' said an environmental engineer who worked on the study but requested anonymity for fear of reprisal.
Kushner's team has dismissed the protests as a 'small minority' and vowed to push ahead. A spokesperson for Affinity Partners told me the project would create 3,000 jobs and boost tourism. 'We follow all local laws,' the statement read. 'Any allegations are baseless.'
But the trail of documents suggests otherwise. Emails between the Albanian prime minister's office and the developer, obtained via a freedom of information request, show backroom deals that gave the project exclusive rights to 12 kilometres of coastline. A cable from the US embassy in Tirana, published by WikiLeaks, described the Albanian prime minister as 'eager to please Washington at any cost.'
British investors have remained silent. I reached the London office of the hedge fund. A receptionist said, 'No comment,' and hung up. The property group's chairman did not return calls. But silence is a form of complicity. They cannot claim ignorance now.
This is a story of unaccountable power. Of money flowing from the White House to a Balkan beach, buying up land and silencing dissent. The protests in Vlorë are a warning sign. If the British investors do not pull out, they will be held accountable by history. And by the people whose homes are being stolen from under them.
