Tirana Erupts Over Kushner And Trump-Linked Island Development

A massive nighttime protest took place at Skanderbeg Square in Tirana on May 31, 2026, as part of the “Albania is not for sale” movement.

Thousands of demonstrators gathered in the square, raising smartphones with their flashlights switched on and creating a powerful sea of bright white lights across the crowd.

Many participants waved Albanian flags as an energetic and determined atmosphere filled one of Tirana’s main central squares. The footage captured the scale of the gathering.

The protest was part of growing opposition to a controversial $1.4 billion luxury tourism project on Sazan Island and the nearby Zvërnec area, linked to Jared Kushner through his firm Affinity Partners.

Demonstrators accuse the Albanian government of changing the protected status of ecologically sensitive areas to allow large-scale construction.

The protest lasted more than two hours and included marches toward the Prime Minister’s office. Similar demonstrations continued into early June, with some turning violent and resulting in arrests.

The phone-light display has become a signature visual of these protests.