Protests Continue in Albania Against Luxury Tourism Resort Backed by Jared Kushner

Protests have continued for weeks in Albania over a planned luxury tourism resort in a protected area, according to a CBS News report published June 25, 2026. The demonstrations have drawn public attention to concerns about how the project was approved and whether the development could affect an area valued for its natural features.

CBS News reported that the resort is backed by Jared Kushner, the U.S. political figure and businessman who is closely associated with President Trump. The reporting describes ongoing unrest as activists and local residents raise objections to the project’s presence and scale, arguing that the plan risks undermining environmental protections.

The planned development is described by CBS as a large tourism project intended to bring high-end visitors to the region. Protesters have maintained pressure in public spaces rather than waiting for a resolution through formal administrative or court processes, according to the CBS account.

While the CBS report focuses on the protests themselves, the underlying dispute centers on the state’s treatment of protected land and the rules governing major private developments. In such cases, the practical stakes often include enforcement of environmental restrictions, licensing standards, and the scope of public input during approval and permitting.

The CBS News segment did not provide detailed, case-specific legal documents in the excerpt available for this report. As a result, this story does not assert what permits have been granted, what agencies are involved, or whether any specific court challenges have already been filed, instead focusing on the fact pattern that protests are ongoing and that the project is described as Kushner-backed.

The resort plan, as characterized by CBS, would rise in a protected area, a status that typically implies limits on land use designed to preserve ecosystems and landscape value. Protestors appear to be using public demonstration to pressure authorities to address their concerns, even as the approval process for a major development typically involves multiple stages including environmental review and zoning or planning determinations.

For local communities, the dispute raises immediate questions about how disruption is managed during protests and whether authorities will enforce order while allowing lawful assembly. For national authorities, the situation also tests institutional credibility in handling high-profile investments, particularly when development intersects with conservation obligations.

What happens next will depend on whether protesters’ complaints translate into formal appeals to regulators, inspections, or litigation, and whether Albanian authorities announce reviews or adjustments to the project’s approvals. The CBS report’s timetable indicates the dispute is still active as of June 25, 2026, with demonstrators continuing to press their objections.