Albania Gripped by Third Day of Violent Anti-Government Protests Over Kushner-Linked Project
Tirana faces escalating unrest as student-led protests against a controversial luxury development linked to Jared Kushner turn violent. Read the latest.
POLICY WIRE — Tirana, Albania — Demonstrators and police clashed in the streets of Tirana for the third consecutive day on Thursday, as a growing anti-government movement intensified its opposition to a major tourism development project connected to Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump.
Student protesters gathered outside the Education Ministry, where they pelted police cordons with rocks. Authorities responded by deploying water cannons and tear gas, resulting in the detention of several individuals involved in the unrest.
The violence follows a chaotic Wednesday that saw protesters target banks, businesses, and government facilities. According to the Health Ministry, the previous day’s clashes left 89 people injured, including 61 police officers.
The demonstrations are part of the so-called flamingo movement, named for the birds inhabiting a nature reserve near the site of the proposed luxury resort on Albania’s southern coast. Participants are demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama, citing widespread corruption and concerns over the development.
Prime Minister Rama, who was seen visiting cleanup crews at a damaged college building, dismissed the protesters’ demands. He accused political rivals of inciting the violence and reaffirmed his commitment to leading Albania toward European Union membership.
The conservative Democratic Party has aligned itself with the student groups, urging the Prime Minister to step down and allow for a caretaker government to oversee early elections. Meanwhile, the European Union delegation in Albania has expressed alarm over the escalation, calling for a measured response from law enforcement.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
