Overview
- SPAK confirmed on Monday that it has opened a formal investigation into changes made in 2024 to land ownership and the protected status of areas targeted for the resort.
- Local protests began in late May after developers put up barbed‑wire fences at Zvernec to block beach access, and footage of private security appearing to assault a protester triggered public outrage.
- Authorities revoked the licenses of two security firms, arrested one guard, charged about 15 protesters, and removed the local police chief from his duties in response to the clashes and video evidence.
- The development is linked to Jared Kushner’s Affinity Partners and reportedly would include about 10,000 hotel rooms on Sazan island and hundreds of hectares of the Vjosa‑Narta landscape; Prime Minister Edi Rama says talks continue and the environmental study and final proposal are not complete.
- The probe matters beyond this project because SPAK is a relatively independent anti‑corruption body and Albania is pursuing EU accession, while conservationists warn the plan would harm flamingos, seals, sea‑turtle nesting sites and public beach access.