Tirana, Albania. Albanian police used water cannons and tear gas on Thursday to disperse protesters outside parliament after some threw eggs and bottles at officers during demonstrations against plans for a multi-billion-dollar resort involving Jared Kushner.
The clash marked a rare escalation in protests that have continued for nearly two months over development projects on Albania’s Adriatic coast.
Protests over coastal development
Activists say the projects threaten wildlife and reflect corruption. The movement has been called the “flamingo revolution,” referring to birds that gather in a protected wetland where Kushner plans to build luxury hotels.
Police in riot gear carrying shields used water cannons against hundreds of protesters who shook fences surrounding the parliament building. Demonstrators chanted, “Thank you Trump for uniting us.”
Government response
Prime Minister Edi Rama strongly supports the Kushner resort and other development projects. He has described the protests as artificial and driven by political opponents.
“I am here to push the government out,” a protester who identified himself as Pirro said. “Rama has to go, he is a thief.”
Noel Leshja, 27, said protesters would continue demonstrating to pressure the government. “If there is no pressure, they will continue to sell Albania,” he said.
Land transaction allegations
Reuters reported this month that Albanian prosecutors suspect that a Miami-based businessman who sold land for the resort to developers working with Kushner forged title deeds. The businessman, who is also accused of laundering funds from cocaine smugglers, denies the allegations.
The developers have said they believe the land transactions are valid.
Kushner has promoted the resort proposal for the coast, which he said he and his wife Ivanka Trump saw from a yacht. He has not commented publicly since the protests began. Developers have confirmed that Kushner is an investor but have not detailed his role or the size of his investment.