Demos continue against luxury resort linked to Trump family in Albania.
Activists have dubbed the protest the “Flamingo Revolution,” using the pink flamingo as a symbol for wildlife threatened by the project.
The project, planned by Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump, aims to transform Sazan Island into a luxury tourist destination. Investors also plan hotels in surrounding areas of the Vjosa-Narta protected zone, rich with wildlife including flamingos.
Ivanka Trump previously mentioned plans for the resort on the “Founders” podcast, describing her and Kushner’s discovery of the island while sailing.
Public anger escalated after excavators moved onto the site last month. Footage of an activist being dragged away went viral, further inflaming opposition.
Thousands have protested nightly in Tirana, with activists blaming lack of transparency from the Albanian government for public outrage.
The Protection and Preservation of the Natural Environment in Albania’s executive director, Aleksandr Trajce, told CBS News that no one was informed about the bulldozers entering the site without permission.
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama insists the project will proceed despite pressure, calling it a potential economic boon for the country with low GDP per capita in Europe.
CBS News witnessed little evidence of development at the Zvërnec area on Albania’s southern coast, beyond tire tracks along the beach. Protesters blame the Albanian government for trying to quell public anger over the project.
A representative for Sazan Real Estate Development LLC and its investors, including Kushner, said they are excited about creating a world-class destination and one of the largest private investments in the region’s history.
Protesters reject these plans, arguing that the UNESCO-protected area should not be developed.