Lutjona Lula

 

In Tirana, Albania, the past days have seen peaceful but determined protests against the Zvërnec mega-resort project, with citizens demanding transparency and environmental protection. Independent investigations reveal troubling links to international investors, opaque legal changes, and violent intimidation of locals — all against the backdrop of Albania’s most fragile coastal ecosystem.

Escalation of protests

On 23 May, residents and environmental activists protested against the fencing of the Pishë-Poro beach in Zvërnec, part of the Vjosa–Narta protected landscape. They accuse oligarchs and politically connected businessmen of illegally seizing land.

On 30 May 2026, protests in Zvërnec escalated when private security guards from the company Major Security assaulted and restrained one demonstrator. State police were present but failed to intervene, prompting disciplinary proceedings against the Vlorë Police Directorate. This has fueled public anger and reinforced perceptions of institutional complicity

The Zvërnec South Adriatic Development project seeks to transform one of Albania’s most fragile ecological zones into a luxury resort complex. The Vjosa–Narta region, designated as a Protected Landscape in 2004 and reinforced by the 2017 Law on Protected Areas, is a sanctuary for flamingos, pelicans, migratory birds, and hundreds of protected species.

Yet in 2024, amendments through Law 21/2024 opened the door to tourism-related developments. Critics argue that no credible scientific or ecological evidence has been presented to justify these changes. The project threatens wetlands, lagoons, and biodiversity, raising alarms among environmental organizations and citizens across Europe.

Behind the glossy renderings of villas and five-star resorts lies a murky reality: offshore registrations, anonymous ownership, and contested property rights. The project is not simply about tourism; it is about power, secrecy, and the erosion of Albania’s environmental and civic protections.

Captured Media

Mainstream Albanian media have largely boycotted coverage or spread disinformation. ABC News aired AI-generated images claiming Greek sponsorship of the protests, invoking nationalist tropes over the Ionian Sea. Other outlets have attempted to delegitimize the movement with antisemitic rhetoric.

By contrast, other media outlets like Citizens Channel and social media have documented the reality: peaceful marches in Tirana, families with children, and intellectuals demanding transparency. Reporter.Al has also conducted a thorough investigation into the matter.  This grassroots reporting has exposed the disconnect between captured national media and civic truth.

Using Disinformation to Delegitimize the Protesters

The disinformation campaigns serve a clear purpose: to obscure the deeper story of opaque offshore structures, contested property rights, and oligarchic interests. International names like Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump have been invoked in headlines, but investigations show these are distractions. The real drivers are Albanian elites, unresolved legal battles, and government-backed development in one of Europe’s last wild ecosystem.

Independent investigations conducted by BIRN, Exit.al, and Reporter.al reveal that the Zvërnec South Adriatic Development project is far from the glossy image of international investment presented in mainstream narratives. The company behind the resort is registered offshore in the Netherlands under a trust structure, with its beneficial owners shielded by anonymity. This lack of transparency has fueled suspicions about the true nature of the project and its backers.

Behind the façade, the real network involves Albanian businessmen with controversial pasts. Among them is Artur Shehu, a Vlora-born businessman residing in the United States, whose name has been tied to property scandals and even mafia investigations in Italy. Another key figure is Pëllumb Petritaj, a lawyer repeatedly accused and convicted for falsifying property documents, whose family has secured large parcels of disputed land in the area. Adding to the controversy is Alaudin Malaj, a former judge removed from the judiciary during Albania’s vetting process, who issued rulings that favored Shehu’s claims over contested property.

The investigation also highlights the role of Musa Kastrati, son of oligarch Shefqet Kastrati, one of Albania’s most powerful businessmen. Musa has been present at meetings with Ivanka Trump and Prime Minister Edi Rama, allegedly negotiating with landowners. His involvement underscores the influence of entrenched oligarchic networks in pushing forward the project.

The scale of development is staggering: plans envision up to 10,000 accommodation units, covering more than 1 million square meters of land, much of it tied up in unresolved property disputes. Contracts involve over 250 hectares of contested property, fenced off from locals who now bitterly remark that they need “a visa to enter their own land.”

These facts demonstrate that invoking international names like Kushner or Trump is a distraction. The real drivers of the project are local elites, unresolved legal battles, and government-backed development in a legally protected ecosystem. The evidence paints a picture of a project built not on transparent investment, but on contested ownership, political patronage, and the erosion of environmental safeguards.

Some commentators attempted to delegitimize protesters by associating them with antisemitic slogans. In reality, the demonstrations have been peaceful, diverse, and inclusive, gathering thousands of citizens from feminist groups, environmentalists, intellectuals, and families. The accusations are part of a broader strategy to stigmatize civic mobilization.

Prime Minister Edi Rama himself described the Zvërnec incident as “an isolated case” fueled by “widespread disinformation” and insisted that reputable international investors were being obstructed. This framing shifts attention away from unresolved property disputes and the violent role of private security, while reinforcing the narrative that protesters are misinformed or manipulated.

 Why It Matters

The protests are not against tourism or investment. They are against secrecy, violence, and disinformation. The central question remains: If Vjosa–Narta was protected in 2004 and reinforced in 2017, what evidence justifies the 2024 legal changes?

Protests in Tirana remain peaceful. Citizens and Albanian diaspora are making use of digital tools as well and have also initiated an online petition to the Government of Albania, the European Commission, the European Parliament, and international environmental organizations, demanding:

  • Suspension of construction until independent environmental assessments are completed.
  • Full transparency on permits, studies, and agreements.
  • Publication of scientific evidence supporting the 2024 legal changes.
  • International environmental impact assessments aligned with EU standards.
  • Protection of wetlands, lagoons, and migratory bird habitats.
  • Meaningful public consultation with communities, scientists, and NGOs.