Kushner-backed luxury resort plan sparks protests in Albania

Kushner-backed luxury resort plan sparks protests in AlbaniaJust nowShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleGuy De LauneyBalkans CorrespondentAnadolu via Getty ImagesProtesters have gathered in front of the prime minister's office all weekProtests in the centre of Albania's capital, Tirana, are not exactly unusual. The opposition Democratic Party (PD) stage them so often that they could almost be classified as an offbeat tourist attraction.But this week's nightly rallies in front of Prime Minister Edi Rama's office have been different - targeting US President's Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, as well as the Socialist Party government.The focus of the anger is a proposed tourism project on Albania's Adriatic coast. Kushner's Affinity Partners would be one of the investors – and Rama has welcomed his interest with open arms.The same cannot be said of the protesters, who outwardly appear to have nothing to do with the mainstream opposition. To make that clear, some participants have been carrying placards calling for the imprisonment of PD leader Sali Berisha – who is facing separate corruption charges – as well as Rama.The protesters are using a pink flamingo as their emblem. It echoes the deployment of a yellow duck in a long-running civic protest movement in Serbia's capital, Belgrade. But in Albania's case, the bird reflects the protesters' very specific concerns.They say plans for the development on Sazan island and a site at Zvernec, near the coastal city of Vlora, pose a threat to flamingos - which are a protected species - as well as other species in the protected wetlands area.Kushner's business partner, Asher Abehsera, says the project is focused on "responsible stewardship" and enhancing the environment, as well as creating jobs and value for local communities.The protesters are also angry about what they see as a lack of transparency over Affinity Partners' involvement, with neg...