Overview
- Since late May heavy machinery, fencing and access works began on Sazan Island and the adjacent Zvërnec coastline, prompting visible on‑the‑ground action by developers.
- Albania’s Special Anti‑Corruption Prosecution (SPAK) has confirmed it opened an investigation into the project, a move that adds formal legal risk to the development.
- Thousands of protesters have marched in Tirana and clashed with police over the plans, using symbolic props to highlight threats to flamingos, monk seals and other wildlife.
- The scheme involves a Kushner‑linked investor and a reported purchase and development deals worth several billion euros, while the government says the land is privately owned and the prime minister strongly supports the investment.
- Environmental and safety concerns center on Sazan’s 3,600 Cold War bunkers, possible unexploded ordnance and disputed privatization records, any of which could delay or legally block the resort.