“If I was in the United States and they were to make a five star resort at the…

JUL 17 2026 · 18:19

“If I was in the United States and they were to make a five star resort at the Grand Canyon, I would be very upset because it's a national treasure. So is Zvernec here for Albania,” 23-year-old student Asllan Llani Dogjani told Reuters on the 33rd day of the so-called Flamingo protests.⁣ ⁣ Thousands of people have been taking to the streets of the Albanian capital, Tirana, since the end of May demanding the cancellation of a luxury tourism development to be built on Sazan Island set in the Adriatic Sea off the coast of Vlora, in Albania. The development is said to be linked to Ivanka Trump and US President’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, after they happened upon the island.⁣ ⁣ When asked by the BBC for comment, Kushner's business partner, Asher Abehsera, said the project is focused on "responsible stewardship" and enhancing the environment, as well as creating jobs and value for local communities.⁣ ⁣ The protests have been branded the Flamingo Revolution because the €1.4bn ($1.6bn) resort is set to be developed near a protected wetland home to flamingos, seals and sea turtle nesting sites.⁣ ⁣ The BBC contacted the Trump Organization for comment in June but received no reply.⁣ ⁣ Prime Minister Edi Rama has defended the project and says there was "no chance" the development would stop while he was leader.⁣ ⁣ On an episode of Dua Lipa’s podcast which was released on 14 July, the singer, whose parents are Kosovar Albanian, said to her guest, Albanian author and academic Lea Ypi: “I find it so inspiring to see how much people really care, you know, day after day they’re hitting the streets.”⁣ ⁣ #BBCGlobalWomen #Albania #FlamingoRevolution #DuaLipa #resort