©picture alliance / Anadolu | Olsi Shehu
Jared Kushner, Donald Trump’s son-in-law, is becoming increasingly entangled in a growing controversy in Albania over his planned luxury resort. Reuters reported that the land on which he plans to build may have been sold improperly, after a Miami-based businessman was accused of forging property documents.
The businessman, Artur Shehu, sold land to the developers behind Kushner’s resort project in April for about 110 million euros. Albanian authorities are seeking him on charges of alleged drug money laundering and, according to his lawyer, have issued an arrest warrant, but Shehu denies all allegations.
At the same time, for years, local residents have been claiming that they—not Shehu—are the rightful owners of the land. They say they have title deeds and tax documents to support their claim. The developers, on the other hand, maintain that the transaction was conducted legally and that they assume the purchase was valid.
Large-scale flamingo protest
The issue is part of a much larger and politically sensitive project. After all, Kushner’s company wants to develop a luxury resort on the uninhabited island of Sazan and in the coastal area across from it, with plans for thousands of hotel rooms and an investment of billions of dollars. In Albania, this has been sparking protests for weeks, as the project would encroach on a protected nature reserve home to flamingos, monk seals, and other vulnerable species. Environmental organizations warn that this is one of the most important biodiversity zones in the Mediterranean. According to critics, however, the debate is not only about nature, but also about possible corruption and political influence. The Albanian anti-corruption agency SPAK is investigating both the legislative change that allowed construction in protected areas and the source of the investments.
Prime Minister Edi Rama defended the project as an opportunity for tourism development and foreign investment. But anger is growing on the streets. Protesters are demanding protection of the area, greater transparency, and in some cases even Rama’s resignation, turning the issue into a broader political matter.
©picture alliance / Anadolu | Olsi Shehu