Residents of the Albanian village of Zvernec are challenging the development of a luxury resort project linked to Jared Kushner, citing long-standing property disputes and claims of wrongful land sales. Local villagers, supported by property deeds and tax records, allege their land was sold by a rival claimant without their consent or compensation. While Prime Minister Edi Rama defends the development as legal, the project remains stalled amid local protests and European Union concerns regarding environmental impacts on the Vjosa-Narta Protected Area.
The Origins of the Land Dispute
The conflict centers on overlapping ownership claims involving local residents and Artur Shehu, an Albania native who has lived in Miami for 26 years. According to residents and their lawyer, Kostandin Beko, an Albanian court ruled in their favor in 2013, though an appeal filed by Shehu has left the matter legally unresolved. Shehu, who claims his rights to the land date back to the Ottoman Empire, stated on an Albanian television program that his claim is “undisputed” and that he sold the land through an unnamed middleman.
The Vjosa-Narta Protected Area, the site of the proposed development, is a critical habitat for diverse wildlife, including migrating flamingos, seals, and sea turtles.
The Role of International Investment
Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of former U.S. President Donald Trump, is linked to the development through Sazan Real Estate Development LLC. While Kushner announced the project in 2024 via social media, his investment arm, Affinity Partners, has not responded to requests for comment. A spokesperson for Sazan Real Estate Development stated that the project’s partners are investing in a personal capacity. Reuters found no evidence of direct involvement or wrongdoing by Kushner in the ongoing land disputes.
The friction in Zvernec underscores a broader structural challenge in Albania: the collision between modern, high-value international investment and a complex, post-communist land registry system. When property records are contested due to state seizures from the communist era, projects often stall regardless of the political backing from national leadership, creating significant legal and reputational risks for foreign developers.
What Happens Next?
The future of the resort project remains uncertain as legal and social pressures mount. Residents are preparing to file a court order to halt construction, and protesters in Tirana continue to demand that the work be stopped. While Prime Minister Edi Rama maintains that the development is lawful and that the existence of a court trial does not mandate a freeze on property use, the removal of perimeter fencing and the departure of construction equipment suggest a pause in operations. Any restart of the project may depend on the resolution of the underlying court cases and the ability of developers to navigate intensifying scrutiny from the European Union.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Jared Kushner personally developing the land?
According to a spokesperson for Sazan Real Estate Development LLC, Kushner and other partners are investing in the project in a personal capacity, rather than through his investment firm, Affinity Partners.
Why are the villagers protesting?
Villagers claim their land was wrongfully sold by a rival claimant without their knowledge or compensation. They report that the project has restricted their access to the sea and disrupted local life.
What is the legal status of the land?
Ownership is currently subject to an unresolved legal battle. While residents cite a 2013 court ruling in their favor, the opposing claimant has appealed, and the government maintains that the development may proceed while legal proceedings continue.
How do you believe the balance should be struck between economic development and the preservation of historical property rights in protected regions?
