Hundreds of Albanians tear down barriers at beach protesting Kushner resort project
Translated from Serbian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- Hundreds of Albanians tore down barriers at Kakome Beach to protest the privatization of public coastal areas.
- The protest targeted a controversial luxury resort project linked to Jared Kushner and the Trump family.
- Demonstrators declared that the beaches belong to the people, not oligarchs, and vowed to continue their actions.
Hundreds of citizens in southern Albania have dismantled physical barriers at Kakome Beach, protesting against the privatization of public coastal areas and a controversial luxury resort project. The development is linked to Jared Kushner and the Trump family, sparking public anger.
Residents from Nivice, Shen Vasili, and surrounding villages participated in the demonstration, removing fences, guardhouses, and barbed wire that had blocked access to a portion of the bay for over two decades. Chanting slogans like "Albania is not for sale" and "Flamingo Revolution," the protesters asserted that the beaches are public property.
Albania is not for sale
Video footage shared on social media shows demonstrators removing the barriers and entering the enclosed coastal area. This action reflects a broader wave of protests in Albania against the privatization of public goods and the influence of foreign investors in protected zones.
The protests have intensified due to plans for a large resort in the south, which critics view as an example of corruption and the concession of national resources to foreign interests at the expense of local populations and the environment. The action at Kakome Beach highlights growing dissatisfaction with Prime Minister Edi Rama's government, accused of favoring large investors over public interest. Demonstrators have stated their intention to continue their actions until the further privatization of coastlines is halted.
Flamingo Revolution
Originally published by N1 Serbia in Serbian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.