The “flamingo uprising” shakes the Rama regime – He sees a Greek finger in the protests!
The “flamingo uprising” shakes the Rama regime – He sees a Greek finger in the protests!
The plans of Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and Ivanka Trump to build a pharaonic tourist resort in a protected coastal zone in Albania have caused strong reactions in Albania.
Holding paper flamingos, the protesters on the fourth day of mass demonstrations are determined to prevent the construction of the large hotel unit, which is of course also supported by the government of Edi Rama, who sees education as a personal bet for his government.
The flamingo has become the unlikely mascot of the escalating protests in Αλβανία against a proposed resort, which would encroach on the birds' breeding grounds. On Tirana's main avenue, thousands of demonstrators gathered on Wednesday (03.06.2026) for the fourth night of large-scale protests against the development. The crowd waved Albanian flags, placards with quirky slogans and large cardboard flamingos on sticks, as reported by Politico. “Albania is not for sale,” one sign read. “Where will they live now?” another read, accompanied by a picture of the pink bird.
The Greek diaspora in Svernica, Albania, also remains unsettled after the violent incidents and Rama’s provocative statements that added fuel to the “fire” that persists in the investment of Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner. The Greek diaspora say they will not back down and will not surrender their lands. Earlier this week, the country’s anti-corruption prosecutor announced that he is investigating the ownership and legal status of the land that has been seized and assets of individuals linked to the project have been seized.
In 2024, Kushner announced plans for his private equity firm, Affinity Partners, to develop a large luxury resort on Albania’s Sazan Island and the Zvernec coastline near Vlora, with the potential for up to 10.000 hotel rooms. He visited the site with his wife, Ivanka, in January 2026, and in April, Edi Rama confirmed to POLITICO that discussions about the project were ongoing.
The proposed development is located within a once-protected natural ecosystem that is home to flamingos, more than 200 species of migratory birds, Mediterranean seals and nesting sea turtles. However, controversial changes to Albania’s protected areas law in 2024 paved the way for tourism developments in some protected areas.
The controversy escalated in late May when developers fenced off part of the site with barbed wire, sparking protests, clashes with private security guards, several arrests, and the imprisonment of a security guard accused of assaulting and illegally detaining a protester.
Provocative statements
Edi Rama has once again leveled barbs against Greece. The Albanian leader attempted to present the strong reactions to environmental issues and large tourism investments in his country as part of a broader and organized "hybrid war" directed against Tirana.
During his statement, the Albanian Prime Minister claimed that his government knows who is covering up the origin of these attacks, photographing forces that orchestrate mobilizations under the pretext of ecological sensitivity. In the same context, he spoke of circles that oppose the EU and use sensitive environmental issues, with the sole aim of halting Albania's economic and development path!
Rama’s most notable and provocative statement was the direct connection of these internal and external reactions to Golden Dawn in Greece. The Albanian prime minister spoke of “Golden Dawn brothers” who, he claimed, collaborate with specific Albanian circles and act against the interests of the country, wearing a supposedly patriotic cloak for the protection of natural wealth.
At the same time, he defended his country's defensive armor, noting that Albania is respected within NATO, has strong defense against cyberterrorism, and is well aware of the origin and direction of the threats it faces.
The focus of Edi Rama's rhetoric has been on large, luxury tourist resorts, which he has been ardent advocates of. Responding to those who question the feasibility of these projects, he has stressed that these investments are the main source of high revenues for Albanian tourism. In a rather unusual twist, he has even urged doubters to turn to artificial intelligence tools such as ChatGPT to confirm that luxury resorts generate significant income, dismissing opposing views as the product of ignorance.
Instead of giving concrete answers on the merits of the environmental and social impacts of the projects, the Albanian Prime Minister chose the path of denouncing an organized plan, including the Greek side. Edi Rama's communication tactics are not considered accidental by analysts. By turning social and environmental objections into a matter of national security and external threat, the Tirana government avoids the difficult discussion about the rights of local communities, transparency and property. Thus, anyone who expresses disagreement risks being targeted as a pawn in a dark plan to destabilize the country.
For Athens, this rhetoric is perceived as a direct political attack. The use of terms that refer to the far right aims to stigmatize in advance any Greek sensitivity for minority rights and property as nationalist or anti-European.
This obscures the true dimension of the problem, which concerns the communities that see their land threatened. Tirana's message is clear that there will be no retreat in investment plans, leaving open the question of whether and how Greek diplomacy will react to ensure the rights of the Greek minority.
Rama got into a fight with a journalist!
Rama's interview with CNN International, sparked intense controversy over the ongoing investment project in the Svernica region. During the discussion, the Albanian Prime Minister repeatedly questioned the information presented about the tourism project, claiming that there is no approved project yet and that the images and scenarios circulating on social media are the product of misinformation.
“There is no project. You are talking about a project that does not exist anywhere else except false images created and distributed on social networks,” Rama said, referring to phenomena of “hybrid warfare.” Tensions peaked when the CNN journalist attempted to clarify whether the project has been “frozen” or is continuing, citing Politico reports regarding an investigation by the Special Prosecutor’s Office against Corruption in Albania.
Rama reacted strongly, saying: “Do you want to listen to me or do you just want to talk?”, insisting that the investigation does not concern the investment project itself, but one of the landowners who participated in a transaction to sell private land. The Albanian prime minister clarified that the investment team does not consist only of Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump, but also of other investors, while he claimed that top names in the global architectural community have been recruited for the project.
What do Rama-demonstrators support?
Rama told CNN International that the project is not yet in place and that the environmental assessment is still underway. He added that "the challenge is not to pour concrete over the heads of flamingos. The challenge is to prove that development and nature can not only coexist, but that nature and development need each other."
Suzi, a protester who works in the tourism sector and who, like others, asked to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals, told Politico: “We are protesting because we are in danger of handing over our land to people who have no interest in helping Albanians, but only in making profits for themselves.”
“This movement is unprecedented in Albania’s post-communist history,” said Gresa Hasa, an expert on Albania and a doctoral researcher at the University of Graz in Austria. “Without the support of any political party, they are creating an independent popular movement driven by citizen mobilization. It is mainly young people, most of whom are under 30.”
Steph, a German protester who has lived in Albania for four years, said: “Part of the protest is about the environment, while the other part is because people don’t want their land taken away without a say in it and without any benefit.”
On Wednesday, Rama said he was ready to talk to real protesters who have environmental concerns, not those who want to “promote anti-development positions,” but he has repeatedly stated that the proposed investment will go ahead. Previously, he rhetorically wondered how his compatriots could agree with the Greek media! The issue has also caused political reactions in our country.
Demonstrations organized by the Albanian diaspora are planned for Sunday outside the European Parliament in Brussels, as well as in Stockholm, Berlin, Munich, Toronto, Milan, Florence, New York, Bologna and Skopje over the next five days.
The “flamingo uprising” shakes the Rama regime – He sees a Greek finger in the protests!
The plans of Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and Ivanka Trump to build a pharaonic tourist resort in a protected coastal zone in Albania have caused strong reactions in Albania.
Holding paper flamingos, the protesters on the fourth day of mass demonstrations are determined to prevent the construction of the large hotel unit, which is of course also supported by the government of Edi Rama, who sees education as a personal bet for his government.
The flamingo has become the unlikely mascot of the escalating protests in Αλβανία against a proposed resort, which would encroach on the birds' breeding grounds. On Tirana's main avenue, thousands of demonstrators gathered on Wednesday (03.06.2026) for the fourth night of large-scale protests against the development. The crowd waved Albanian flags, placards with quirky slogans and large cardboard flamingos on sticks, as reported by Politico. “Albania is not for sale,” one sign read. “Where will they live now?” another read, accompanied by a picture of the pink bird.
The Greek diaspora in Svernica, Albania, also remains unsettled after the violent incidents and Rama’s provocative statements that added fuel to the “fire” that persists in the investment of Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner. The Greek diaspora say they will not back down and will not surrender their lands. Earlier this week, the country’s anti-corruption prosecutor announced that he is investigating the ownership and legal status of the land that has been seized and assets of individuals linked to the project have been seized.
In 2024, Kushner announced plans for his private equity firm, Affinity Partners, to develop a large luxury resort on Albania’s Sazan Island and the Zvernec coastline near Vlora, with the potential for up to 10.000 hotel rooms. He visited the site with his wife, Ivanka, in January 2026, and in April, Edi Rama confirmed to POLITICO that discussions about the project were ongoing.
The proposed development is located within a once-protected natural ecosystem that is home to flamingos, more than 200 species of migratory birds, Mediterranean seals and nesting sea turtles. However, controversial changes to Albania’s protected areas law in 2024 paved the way for tourism developments in some protected areas.
The controversy escalated in late May when developers fenced off part of the site with barbed wire, sparking protests, clashes with private security guards, several arrests, and the imprisonment of a security guard accused of assaulting and illegally detaining a protester.
Provocative statements
Edi Rama has once again leveled barbs against Greece. The Albanian leader attempted to present the strong reactions to environmental issues and large tourism investments in his country as part of a broader and organized "hybrid war" directed against Tirana.
During his statement, the Albanian Prime Minister claimed that his government knows who is covering up the origin of these attacks, photographing forces that orchestrate mobilizations under the pretext of ecological sensitivity. In the same context, he spoke of circles that oppose the EU and use sensitive environmental issues, with the sole aim of halting Albania's economic and development path!
Rama’s most notable and provocative statement was the direct connection of these internal and external reactions to Golden Dawn in Greece. The Albanian prime minister spoke of “Golden Dawn brothers” who, he claimed, collaborate with specific Albanian circles and act against the interests of the country, wearing a supposedly patriotic cloak for the protection of natural wealth.
At the same time, he defended his country's defensive armor, noting that Albania is respected within NATO, has strong defense against cyberterrorism, and is well aware of the origin and direction of the threats it faces.
The focus of Edi Rama's rhetoric has been on large, luxury tourist resorts, which he has been ardent advocates of. Responding to those who question the feasibility of these projects, he has stressed that these investments are the main source of high revenues for Albanian tourism. In a rather unusual twist, he has even urged doubters to turn to artificial intelligence tools such as ChatGPT to confirm that luxury resorts generate significant income, dismissing opposing views as the product of ignorance.
Instead of giving concrete answers on the merits of the environmental and social impacts of the projects, the Albanian Prime Minister chose the path of denouncing an organized plan, including the Greek side. Edi Rama's communication tactics are not considered accidental by analysts. By turning social and environmental objections into a matter of national security and external threat, the Tirana government avoids the difficult discussion about the rights of local communities, transparency and property. Thus, anyone who expresses disagreement risks being targeted as a pawn in a dark plan to destabilize the country.
For Athens, this rhetoric is perceived as a direct political attack. The use of terms that refer to the far right aims to stigmatize in advance any Greek sensitivity for minority rights and property as nationalist or anti-European.
This obscures the true dimension of the problem, which concerns the communities that see their land threatened. Tirana's message is clear that there will be no retreat in investment plans, leaving open the question of whether and how Greek diplomacy will react to ensure the rights of the Greek minority.
Rama got into a fight with a journalist!
Rama's interview with CNN International, sparked intense controversy over the ongoing investment project in the Svernica region. During the discussion, the Albanian Prime Minister repeatedly questioned the information presented about the tourism project, claiming that there is no approved project yet and that the images and scenarios circulating on social media are the product of misinformation.
“There is no project. You are talking about a project that does not exist anywhere else except false images created and distributed on social networks,” Rama said, referring to phenomena of “hybrid warfare.” Tensions peaked when the CNN journalist attempted to clarify whether the project has been “frozen” or is continuing, citing Politico reports regarding an investigation by the Special Prosecutor’s Office against Corruption in Albania.
Rama reacted strongly, saying: “Do you want to listen to me or do you just want to talk?”, insisting that the investigation does not concern the investment project itself, but one of the landowners who participated in a transaction to sell private land. The Albanian prime minister clarified that the investment team does not consist only of Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump, but also of other investors, while he claimed that top names in the global architectural community have been recruited for the project.
What do Rama-demonstrators support?
Rama told CNN International that the project is not yet in place and that the environmental assessment is still underway. He added that "the challenge is not to pour concrete over the heads of flamingos. The challenge is to prove that development and nature can not only coexist, but that nature and development need each other."
Suzi, a protester who works in the tourism sector and who, like others, asked to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals, told Politico: “We are protesting because we are in danger of handing over our land to people who have no interest in helping Albanians, but only in making profits for themselves.”
“This movement is unprecedented in Albania’s post-communist history,” said Gresa Hasa, an expert on Albania and a doctoral researcher at the University of Graz in Austria. “Without the support of any political party, they are creating an independent popular movement driven by citizen mobilization. It is mainly young people, most of whom are under 30.”
Steph, a German protester who has lived in Albania for four years, said: “Part of the protest is about the environment, while the other part is because people don’t want their land taken away without a say in it and without any benefit.”
On Wednesday, Rama said he was ready to talk to real protesters who have environmental concerns, not those who want to “promote anti-development positions,” but he has repeatedly stated that the proposed investment will go ahead. Previously, he rhetorically wondered how his compatriots could agree with the Greek media! The issue has also caused political reactions in our country.
Demonstrations organized by the Albanian diaspora are planned for Sunday outside the European Parliament in Brussels, as well as in Stockholm, Berlin, Munich, Toronto, Milan, Florence, New York, Bologna and Skopje over the next five days.
The “flamingo uprising” shakes the Rama regime – He sees a Greek finger in the protests!