Clash in Albania as Greek minority protests luxury resort linked to Kushner and Trump
Environmental fears and property rights concerns fuel tensions in southern Albania as Greek minority communities oppose major tourism development
June 1, 2026
Violent clashes have erupted in southern Albania after members of the Greek minority confronted security forces during protests over a controversial luxury tourism project reportedly linked to Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump.
The incidents took place in Zvërnec, a coastal area of southern Albania, where residents have been protesting plans for a high-end resort development in one of the country’s most environmentally sensitive regions. Community members fear the project could damage the natural environment and threaten properties belonging to families of the Greek National Minority.
According to reports, at least one ethnic Greek resident was injured during the clashes, prompting a swift response from Greece, which called for a full investigation into the events and respect for minority rights.
Greek minority at the centre of dispute
Local Greek residents have opposed the development plans for months, arguing that the project threatens not only their properties but also the historical and social character of an area long associated with the Greek National Minority.
The controversy extends beyond a local dispute over tourism development. The project has been linked to Jared Kushner, son-in-law of US President Donald Trump, and Ivanka Trump through investment entities pursuing what could become one of the largest tourism developments ever proposed for the Albanian Riviera.
Zvërnec, located near the Narta Lagoon and close to the Vjosa River Delta, is regarded by environmental organisations as one of the Mediterranean’s last largely untouched coastal ecosystems. Despite its ecological significance, the area has increasingly attracted interest for luxury hotels, villas and thousands of tourist residences.
International attention on the Albanian Riviera
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Kushner investment ‘leveling centuries-old dunes’
The Greek community in south Albania is worried about a plan by Trump’s son-in-law to built a luxury resort in a protected area near Zvernec
Kostas Konomi’s every stroll along this narrow strip of Albanian coastline dotted with coves was a journey into the past. He and his father used to plant wheat, corn and vegetables there. He remembers other villagers from neighboring Zvernec once maintaining farms and pastures in the area.
“Every field has a name,” he says. Recently, however, he has been unable to approach these areas. A barbed wire fence prohibits access, while trucks and bulldozers are leaving their mark on the pristine sandy beaches. “I don’t know what they’re doing behind our backs, while we’re still in court over the ownership of the land,” he adds.
For the past two years, residents of Zvernec have been in turmoil since learning that Jared Kushner, son-in-law of US President Donald Trump, plans to invest in this area of southern Albania, northwest of the city of Vlore, by building a luxury tourist resort.
Last January, Kushner and his wife Ivanka Trump visited the area accompanied by a group of architects and businessmen, creating the feeling that locals may soon find themselves before a fait accompli. The couple visited the beaches unspoiled by mass tourism and St Mary’s Monastery in the Narta Lagoon.
The recent fencing of the area intensified concerns among the locals that they would be pushed aside. According to Albanian media reports, an offshore company in the Netherlands is behind the construction of the fence – Kushner’s name does not appear in its statements. Based on what has been known so far, road construction projects are currently underway to facilitate the later development of the area. Kathimerini attempted to contact a representative of the construction company for clarification, but did not receive a response.
‘Fence of shame’
Bledar Alexandros Konomi, an associate professor of statistics at the University of Cincinnati and originally from Zvernec, calls this military-grade fence the “fence of shame.” He spoke to Kathimerini shortly before he left the United States to visit his homeland and see the developments up close. He said the fence was put up before legal issues were resolved and without a clear and fair compensation process.
Continue reading at: ekathimerini.com/
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Albanian authorities probe seaside resort project linked to Jared Kushner
Affinity Partners wants to turn the coastal wetland area — home to flamingos, seals and sea turtle nesting sites — into a huge resort.