From Kushner's Investors to Rama's Oligarchs: The Network Behind the Takeover of Zvërnec

 Residents and environmental activists gathered in Albania's Narta Lagoon to protest the fencing off of Pishë Poro beach, part of the protected Vjosa-Narta ecosystem, where a massive luxury tourism project is set to rise.

Albanian police during the protest of residents and environmental activists, on May 23 in front of the barbed wire fence of the Zvërnec enclave | Photo courtesy PPNEA

The development is being carried out by an offshore company, Zvërnec South Adriatic Development, whose real owners remain hidden behind a complex chain of shell companies and Dutch trust structures. International reports have linked the project to Jared Kushner, son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump, and wealthy Qatari investors, as Agron Shehaj, head of ¨Mundesia¨ party, reports.

However, documents reveal a much broader local network involving controversial businessmen, politically connected figures, former judges, disputed landowners, and individuals tied to some of Albania's most powerful oligarchs, including businessman Shefqet Kastrati.

The project is advancing despite long-standing ownership disputes over large parts of the land. Yet Albania's government, led by Prime Minister Edi Rama, approved development permits while insisting that property conflicts are not its responsibility, local media say.

Critics argue that the resort represents another example of public interests being sacrificed for private profit. The area is one of Albania's most valuable natural habitats, home to migratory birds, coastal dunes, and protected ecosystems. Nevertheless, years of legal changes and political decisions have gradually weakened environmental protections, paving the way for large-scale construction.

Behind promises of luxury tourism lies a troubling reality: local communities risk losing access to their land and coastline, while sensitive ecosystems face irreversible damage. The use of offshore ownership structures, disputed properties, and politically connected intermediaries raises serious questions about transparency, accountability, and who truly benefits from the transformation of Zvërnec.

For many residents, the message is clear: Albania's natural heritage is being handed over to powerful business and political interests, while ordinary citizens are left to bear the environmental and social costs.