New revelations fuel Albania’s “Flamingo Revolution” as Kushner-linked resort deal faces forgery allegations

Albania’s ongoing Flamingo revolution – a wave of protests that began in late May over environmental threats to the protected Vjosa-Narta wetlands and Sazan Island – has gained fresh momentum with explosive new allegations about the land deal tied to a luxury resort project backed by Jared Kushner.

The protests, named after the iconic flamingos of the Narta Lagoon, started in the village of Zvërnec near Vlorë and quickly spread to Tirana and beyond. What began as a local fight to protect one of Europe’s last pristine Adriatic coastal ecosystems has evolved into a broader movement against perceived corruption, opaque governance, and elite-driven development under Prime Minister Edi Rama’s government.

Albania’s “Flamingo revolution”: will Rama’s Kushner-backed resort deal cost him his premiership?

Fresh scandal: suspected forged deeds

A Reuters investigation published on 11 July reveals that Albanian prosecutors from the Special Structure Against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK) suspect Artur Shehu, a Miami-based businessman, of using forged property deeds to sell coastal land for the controversial project.

According to case files reviewed by Reuters, Shehu and associates allegedly used falsified documents and laundered funds (linked to South American cocaine trafficking) to build a real estate portfolio before selling a key strip of coastline in April for around €110 million to entities connected to the Kushner-backed development. Prosecutors have frozen the sale proceeds in a notary account, preventing the money from reaching Shehu.

Shehu denies all accusations. His lawyer, Kujtim Çakrani, insists the family has owned the land since Ottoman times and that the sale was legitimate. No wrongdoing is alleged against Kushner, his firm Affinity Partners, or the project developers (Sazan Real Estate Development), and the company maintains the acquisitions were lawful.

Local residents in Zvërnec have long contested the land claims, presenting their own deeds and tax records. The new allegations add weight to their years-long legal battles and intensify criticism of how the project received “strategic investor” status with expedited permits.

Wider context of the Flamingo revolution

The Sazan Island and Zvërnec resort project – valued at billions and promoted as a high-end tourism development – has become a lightning rod. Protesters accuse the government of bypassing environmental protections, public consultation, and proper tender procedures in a sensitive wetland area home to flamingos, sea turtles, and thousands of other species.

The scandal comes as Albania pursues EU membership, with Brussels repeatedly urging respect for environmental standards and rule of law. The protests have drawn international attention, highlighting tensions between rapid tourism-driven growth and sustainable development in one of Europe’s poorest countries.

Prime Minister Rama has defended the project as a major economic opportunity and dismissed parts of the movement as politically motivated. The government insists private land transactions are not its responsibility.

As the Flamingo Revolution enters its second month, with daily demonstrations and growing diaspora support, the latest revelations risk further eroding public trust and complicating Albania’s European path.

With Reuters

Caption: An inflatable flamingo is seen on the beach in the area planned for the coastal resort project linked to Jared Kushner, son-in-law of US President Donald Trump near Vlora, Albania, 06 June 2026. The project has faced public opposition over environmental concerns and land-ownership questions. EPA/MALTON DIBRA