The flamingo bird has become the symbol of an unprecedented movement in Albania, directed against a huge tourist project associated with Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of American President Donald Trump.
Thousands of people have taken to the streets in Tirana in recent days, accusing the authorities of sacrificing one of the country’s most valuable natural areas for a luxury investment estimated at 4 billion euros.
The demonstrations culminated on Wednesday evening with clashes between protesters and police, who used water cannons to disperse the crowd. According to Politico and AP, the protests started in the targeted project area and quickly spread to the capital of Albania, where the pink bird became the emblem of opposition to the investment.
From a Barefoot Walk on the Island to a Billion-Dollar Project
The project is linked to Affinity Partners, the investment fund founded by Jared Kushner. It aims to develop a luxury resort on Sazan Island and in the Narta lagoon area and Zvernec coastline, near the city of Vlora.
According to AP, the development is expected to include hotels, apartments, villas, and a marina. In total, the project could reach around 10,000 hotel rooms.
In an interview given this week to American podcaster David Senra, Ivanka Trump, the daughter of the American president, recounted that she and her husband stumbled upon the place. "We were on a friend's boat and stopped to swim. Basically, that's how we found the place," she said.
"We swam to the island. We walked barefoot all the way up, and we were just fascinated," added Ivanka Trump.
Kushner and Ivanka Trump visited the area again in January 2026. In April, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama confirmed to Politico that discussions regarding the investment are ongoing.
A Natural Reserve with Flamingos, Seals, and Sea Turtles
Opposition to the project is fueled primarily by concerns about its environmental impact.
According to Politico, the targeted area is part of an ecosystem that hosts flamingos, over 200 species of migratory birds, Mediterranean monk seals, and sea turtles that lay their eggs on the coast.
AP notes that the Narta lagoon is one of the most important biodiversity areas in Albania and serves as a crucial stopover for migratory birds from the Adriatic coast.
In recent weeks, excavators and heavy machinery have appeared in the area, access roads have been opened, and fences have been installed. Environmental organizations have accused protected natural habitats of decades being affected.
At the protests in Tirana, participants carried cardboard flamingos and signs with messages like "Albania is not for sale" and "Where will they live now?" alongside images of the pink birds.
How the "Flamingo Revolution" Emerged
According to Politico, tensions escalated at the end of May after developers fenced off part of the land with barbed wire.
Protests followed, altercations with private security agents, and several arrests. A security guard was jailed after being accused of assaulting and illegally detaining a protester.
Online, the flamingo has become the symbol of the movement, and protesters have started using the expression "Flamingo Revolution." "We protest because we risk giving our land to people who have no interest in helping Albanians but only in making a profit for themselves," said a protester identified only by the first name Suzi, to Politico.
Gresa Hasa, a researcher at the University of Graz specializing in Albanian studies, believes that the scale of mobilization is unusual. "This movement is unprecedented in Albania's post-communist history. Without the support of any political party, people are building a grassroots movement based on citizen mobilization. They are mainly young, most under 30 years old," added Hasa.
Police Intervened with Water Cannons
Wednesday night, thousands of people gathered in central Tirana for the fourth consecutive night of protests.
According to Politico, the situation became tense after protesters managed to push the barriers installed near the Government of Tirana. The police intervened using water cannons.
Security measures were increased because the national stadium, located about 300 meters from the protest site, was scheduled to host the football match between Albania and Israel.
Politico notes that false information circulated online that the land had been sold to Israel. However, the publication points out that such theories had little support among the protesters.
"Most objections concern the project and the decision-making process around it. People don't care about Jared Kushner's religious or ethnic identity," emphasized Gresa Hasa.
Rama: The Investment Will Not Be Stopped
The Albanian government maintains that the project can transform the country into a luxury destination and attract unprecedented investments.
In an interview with CNN, Prime Minister Edi Rama stated that the environmental assessment is still ongoing, and the project is not finalized. "The challenge is not to pour concrete over the heads of flamingos. The challenge is to demonstrate that development and nature can not only coexist but that nature and development need each other," he said.
However, the Albanian Prime Minister also sent a strong message to the opponents of the investment. "Albania should not be a country afraid of an extraordinary project like this, where exceptional partners have come together to invest 4 billion euros," said Rama, quoted by AP.
He added that he has no intention of giving up on the project: "There is no chance that this investment will be stopped as long as I am here."
Anti-Corruption Prosecutors Have Launched an Investigation
Amid the protests, state institutions have begun to verify the legality of the project.
Politico reports that anti-corruption prosecutors are investigating the legal status and ownership of the targeted lands and have seized assets of individuals associated with the investment.
On the other hand, AP notes that Albanian authorities claim the lands are privately owned, but objections have arisen regarding how they were privatized.
New protests organized by the Albanian diaspora in front of the European Parliament in Brussels are announced for Sunday, as well as in several European and North American cities, including Berlin, Stockholm, Munich, Milan, Toronto, and New York.