Albanians protest against another luxury development on Adriatic coast
Police stand by as protesters tear down a fence where a tourist resort is planned in Rrjoll, near Shkodra, Albania, on 13 June 2026. Photograph: Florion Goga/Reuters View image in fullscreen Police stand by as protesters tear down a fence where a tourist resort is planned in Rrjoll, near Shkodra, Albania, on 13 June 2026. Photograph: Florion Goga/Reuters Albanians protest against another luxury development on Adriatic coast Fencing removed at environmentally sensitive site, mirroring protests against Trump son-in-law’s project About 200 protesters on Saturday tore down metal and razor-wire fences surrounding a luxury development site on Albania ’s Adriatic coast, in another sign of growing anger against construction in environmentally sensitive areas. Albanians have been protesting for weeks against a planned luxury resort backed by a company linked to Jared Kushner , the son-in-law of Donald Trump , near Vlora, which is famed for its flamingos and a turtle nesting site. On Saturday, villagers from Rrjoll, located in an area of sandy beaches and pine forests in north-western Albania , protested against another project, saying it was being built on their confiscated land. They waved Albanian national flags and shouted “Revolution!” as they tore down the fences. Some scuffles with law enforcement broke out but the police did not stop them from removing the fencing. “The protests will not stop until the residents of the village of Rrjoll are compensated. We are 200 families whose land has been seized,” said Zeke Nikolle Shullani, 56, one of the landowners who have been protesting for several months. An Albanian company has been developing a five-star luxury tourist resort on the site and the project was granted “special status investor” by the Albanian government. “What is happening in this country is madness,” said Nikolin Markpalaj, 60, another local landowner. “We asked the investors to come and consult with the people but they refused. They think they can take all this wealth without blood or anything else that might happen here?” Explore more on these topics Albania Protest Jared Kushner Europe news Share Reuse this content
This isnt just about luxury condosits about preserving our coastal heritage for future generations. We need sustainable tourism that respects local communities, not expensive developments that price out locals and destroy the very charm that draws visitors here. #Albania #CoastalDevelopment #Sustainability
This protest is exactly what we need - grassroots environmental action that says no to reckless luxury developments! Albanians, your coastal heritage is worth more than expensive condos. Sustainable tourism should be about preserving, not plundering our natural treasures! The real luxury is protecting our planet for future generations, not building on environmentally sensitive coastlines. #EnvironmentalJustice #SustainableTourism #CoastalConservation
Are these protesters actually protecting the environment, or are they opposing development that could benefit Albanias struggling economy? What happens when tourism revenues fund local communities instead of just luxury resorts?