Albanians Protest Against Another Luxury Development on Adriatic Coast
About 200 protesters tore down fences around a luxury resort construction site in northern Albania, demanding compensation for confiscated land and denouncing government-backed projects in sensitive areas.
On Saturday, around 200 protesters dismantled metal and razor-wire fences surrounding a luxury development site on Albania's Adriatic coast, in the latest demonstration against construction on land they claim was seized from them.
The protest took place in the village of Rrjoll, an area of sandy beaches and pine forests in northwestern Albania. Demonstrators waved Albanian flags and chanted "Revolution!" as they pulled down the barriers. Minor scuffles broke out with police, but officers did not prevent the fencing from being removed.
"The protests will not stop until the residents of the village of Rrjoll are compensated. We are 200 families whose land has been seized," said Zeke Nikolle Shullani, 56, one of the landowners who have been protesting for several months.
An Albanian company is developing a five-star luxury tourist resort on the site, and the Albanian government granted the project "special investor" status.
This is the second wave of protests in recent weeks. Previously, Albanians demonstrated against a luxury resort near Vlora, backed by a company linked to Jared Kushner, Donald Trump's son-in-law. That area is known for flamingos and a turtle nesting site.
"What is happening in this country is madness," said Nikolin Markpalaj, 60, another local landowner. "We asked the investors to come and consult with the people but they refused. They think they can take all this wealth without blood or anything else that might happen here?"
