“This government is corrupted, led and governed by a corrupt prime minister,” protester Lulzim Tanushi, a lawyer, said. “Since Rama came to power he has abused and ruined people’s lives and that is why people are showing their anger — when they were not heard before.”
The protests follow months of mostly peaceful demonstrations sparked by the plans to build the resort, which has faced legal challenges.
Villagers told Reuters in July that their land was wrongfully sold for development. Reuters later reported that the man who sold the land was wanted by prosecutors for drug trafficking, charges his lawyer denied.
Reuters found no evidence of wrongdoing by Kushner, who is not directly involved in the villagers’ dispute.
Albania’s image has been tarnished over the years by corruption scandals and political analysts say the country is a hub for gangs seeking to launder money from drugs and weapons trafficking, complicating its efforts to join the E.U.
Along with Montenegro, Albania is currently leading the accession process among Balkan countries and is aiming for entry as early as 2028.
“Corruption must be confronted and, as the E.U. itself has recently reaffirmed, Albania is tackling it as never before,” Rama said to Reuters.
“Perhaps some forces, at home and abroad, do not want Albania to succeed as a forerunner for E.U. membership. But I will not allow violence to derail Albania’s European future.”
A European Union mission to Albania in a statement on X said: “Constructive dialogue is the only way forward.”
The unrest is part of a wave of student activism in Europe. In France, high school students have staged weeks of protests and school blockades demanding more teachers and better facilities, arguing that deteriorating school buildings and overcrowded classrooms are undermining education.