Albania charges 27 over protest against Trump-linked resort

Protesters hold placards and banners during a protest against a planned luxury resort backed by a company linked to Jared Kushner on an environmentally sensitive part of the Adriatic coast, in Tirana, Jun. 18, 2026. (Reuters)

• People were expected to gather again on Friday evening, as protesters pledged to continue gathering until their demands
• They were accused of “actions that undermine public order and safety,” police said

TIRANA: Albanian police charged 27 more demonstrators with public order offenses on Friday after overnight rallies against a resort development linked to US President Donald Trump’s family.
Since late May, protesters have gathered in thousands to oppose the construction of a luxury hotel, linked to Trump’s daughter Ivanka and her husband Jared Kushner, planned in a nature reserve on the Balkan nation’s coast.
People were expected to gather again on Friday evening, as protesters pledged to continue gathering until their demands, including the cancelation of the project, were met.
Ahead of Friday’s rally, police in a statement said 27 people had been accused of “directing” protesters across roads and away from pre-approved routes during a march in the capital overnight.
They were accused of “actions that undermine public order and safety,” police said.
It followed a similar police action earlier this week, when 35 people were charged for allegedly blocking a highway during protests on the weekend.
The wave of demonstrations was sparked after barbed-wire fencing and bulldozers appeared on a quiet beach in the coastal area of Zvernec — about 100 kilometers (60 miles) southwest of the capital Tirana.
Clashes between local protesters and private security at the proposed hotel site sparked outrage and drew large crowds to marches within days.
Opposition to the development has become a flashpoint for frustrations over perceived corruption, with demands now including the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama.
The Kushner-backed resort, along with another development on nearby Sazan Island, are both planned near a key breeding site for migratory birds — including hundreds of flamingos.