The planned luxury resort development along Albania’s southern coastline has come under increased scrutiny after residents of Zvernec alleged that disputed land was included in the project without their consent. 
Several villagers told Reuters that land they claim to own was sold for development in recent years by another claimant despite an ongoing legal dispute over ownership. The residents, many of whom are in their seventies and eighties, said they were neither consulted nor compensated when the transactions took place. 
The controversy centres on a large coastal project being developed by international investors, including Jared Kushner, son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump. The development is planned across an island and nearby mainland areas that include environmentally sensitive coastal landscapes and wetlands known for migratory birds, seals and sea turtles. 
One of the residents, 81-year-old Kostaq Konomi, said he discovered access to the land he considers his own had been blocked after fencing was erected around part of the project site. According to villagers, the restrictions triggered concerns that land they had used and claimed for decades was being incorporated into the development. 
Reuters reported that it found no evidence of wrongdoing by Kushner, who is not directly involved in the ownership dispute. The agency also said it could not independently determine who legally owns the contested plots because the matter remains subject to ongoing court proceedings. 
The land dispute has emerged at a time when the project is already facing wider opposition. Demonstrations were held in Tirana in recent days, with protesters calling for work on the development to be halted. Environmental groups and European Union officials have also raised concerns regarding transparency and the potential impact on protected habitats. 
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has defended the project, stating that the development complies with legal requirements and that environmental protections would remain in place. Speaking to Reuters, Rama rejected suggestions that the existence of a court case automatically prevented development activity from proceeding. 
Kushner did not respond to requests for comment. A spokesperson for Sazan Real Estate Development LLC, the company overseeing the project, referred Reuters to a public statement from chairman Asher Abehsera. In that statement, Abehsera said the objective of the project was to showcase Albania’s natural beauty, create employment opportunities and build a long-term development for future generations. 
The spokesperson also indicated that the investors involved, including Kushner, were participating in a personal capacity rather than through Kushner’s investment firm, Affinity Partners. Reuters said it could not independently verify that claim. 
The project reportedly gained momentum after Kushner and his wife, Ivanka Trump, visited Albania’s coastline by yacht several years ago. Rama later recalled that discussions about investment opportunities continued when they met again at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Plans for the resort were publicly unveiled in 2024, accompanied by conceptual images showing hotels, residences, swimming pools and yacht facilities. 
Local residents are now preparing further legal action. Their lawyer, Kostandin Beko, said they intend to seek a court order aimed at stopping the project while ownership claims are resolved. 
The case reflects a broader challenge that has affected Albania for decades. Land ownership disputes remain common due to overlapping claims, incomplete records and unresolved restitution cases dating back to the communist era. During communist rule, private properties were nationalised by the state, and efforts to return land after the early 1990s often resulted in competing ownership claims. 
The residents of Zvernec are involved in a long-running legal dispute with Artur Shehu, the individual they say sold the contested land. According to legal documents cited by Reuters, an Albanian court ruled in favour of the villagers in 2013. However, Shehu appealed the decision, leaving the case unresolved. 
Shehu recently stated on Albanian television that his family's ownership claim was not disputed and that he had sold the land through an intermediary without knowing the identity of the final buyers. Reuters said it was unable to verify either his ownership claims or the circumstances surrounding the transaction. 
Residents have presented property deeds and tax records issued after the fall of communism, when land was returned to former owners and their families. They argue that no sale should have proceeded while court proceedings remained active. 
Tensions escalated after fencing erected around the site restricted access to parts of the coastline. Villagers said the barriers limited public access to the sea and led to clashes with private security personnel, leaving several people injured. Videos of the incident circulated widely online. The fencing has since been removed and construction equipment withdrawn, although there is no clarity on when development activity may resume. 
For many residents, the dispute extends beyond legal ownership. Local business operators and long-time residents have expressed concerns about public access to the coastline and the future character of the area. Some say the temporary restrictions revived memories of earlier decades when access to parts of the coast was tightly controlled. 
Source Reuters