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
International media have previously reported on Kushner’s interest in the area, describing Zvërnec as a secluded coastal paradise of sand dunes, rocky shorelines and fragile ecosystems that investors view as ideal for an ultra-luxury destination.
At the same time, environmental groups across Europe have criticised legislative changes introduced by the Albanian government in recent years that facilitate strategic investments, including in protected areas.
For local Greek communities, however, the issue extends well beyond environmental concerns. Residents fear large-scale tourism development could permanently alter the area’s character while intensifying pressure on land ownership claims involving properties that, they say, have belonged to Greek minority families for generations.
Athens has repeatedly linked Albania’s European Union aspirations to respect for the property rights of the Greek National Minority and has previously expressed concerns over development decisions affecting coastal areas where Greek-owned properties are located.
Greece demands investigation
The Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement expressing “serious concern” over the incidents and confirmed that the Greek Embassy in Tirana had provided consular and medical assistance to the injured Greek citizen.
The ministry called on Albanian authorities to fully investigate the events and ensure accountability, while stressing the importance of protecting the rights and properties of members of the Greek National Minority. It also highlighted the need to safeguard protected environmental areas in line with European standards and obligations linked to Albania’s EU accession process.
The dispute has evolved into more than a local development battle, bringing together questions of foreign investment, environmental protection, minority rights and geopolitics. The latest clashes suggest that the conflict over the future of Zvërnec is entering a new and potentially critical phase.
