Zvernec, Albania: The Resort Controversy Explained

Zvernec — a quiet island and coastal area in the Narta Lagoon near Vlora — has become the most talked-about place in Albania almost overnight. A massive luxury resort project backed by international investors has triggered protests, police clashes, a diplomatic incident between Albania and Greece, and a prosecution investigation. If you have been searching “what is happening in Zvernec” or “Albania resort protest,” here is everything you need to know.

Zvernec island sits in the Narta Lagoon, one of the Mediterranean’s last largely untouched coastal wetlands.

Where Is Zvernec?

Zvërnec is a small island in the Narta Lagoon, located roughly 10 km north of Vlora on Albania’s southern Adriatic coast. The island is home to the Monastery of Saint Mary (Manastiri i Shën Marisë), a 13th-century Byzantine church that is one of Albania’s most atmospheric historic sites. Visitors reach the island via a wooden boardwalk that crosses the shallow lagoon — it has long been a peaceful, off-the-beaten-path destination for travellers exploring the Vlora coastline.

The broader Zvernec-Narta area sits at the edge of the Vjosa River Delta, a region environmental organisations consider one of the last largely untouched coastal ecosystems in the Mediterranean. The Narta Lagoon is a critical habitat for flamingos, pelicans, and other migratory birds.

Zvernec sits between the city of Vlora and the island of Sazan on Albania’s southern Adriatic coast.

The Resort Project: What Is Being Built?

The project at the centre of the controversy is a large-scale luxury tourism development planned for the Zvernec-Narta coastline and potentially extending to Sazan island, a former military base further offshore. The development is being led by Zvërnec South Adriatic Development, a company linked to international investment structures involving Jared Kushner’s Affinity Partners and Qatari investors.

The scale is enormous by Albanian standards — and by any standards. With an investment exceeding €4 billion, it would be one of the largest tourism developments in the Mediterranean. The developers say the project would create approximately 10,000 jobs and transform the region into an internationally recognised resort destination.

Two development permits were granted by Albania’s National Territorial Council, headed by Prime Minister Edi Rama, in January and April 2025. However, these permits have not yet been officially published — a detail that has fuelled criticism about transparency.

The largely undeveloped Zvernec-Narta coastline is at the heart of the dispute.

The Protests: What Happened on 30 May 2026?

On Saturday 30 May 2026, demonstrators gathered near the project site in Portonovo, a coastal area within the development zone, to block construction-related work. The protest drew local residents, environmental activists, and members of Albania’s Greek minority community, who have particular concerns about property rights in the area.

The situation escalated when confrontations broke out between protesters and private security personnel employed by the development company. Videos circulating on social media showed physical altercations and the use of pepper spray against demonstrators. A Greek citizen was reportedly injured during the clashes.

Police responded to the scene, but the handling of the situation has itself become controversial. Albanian authorities subsequently launched a disciplinary investigation into the Vlora police force’s conduct during the events. Seventeen people face charges related to the clashes.

Demonstrations at the project site drew national and international attention.

Timeline of Events

Why Are People Opposed?

Opposition to the project centres on three main issues:

1. Environmental Concerns

The Zvernec-Narta area and the nearby Vjosa River Delta form one of the most ecologically significant coastal zones in the Mediterranean. The Narta Lagoon is a protected wetland that supports large populations of flamingos, Dalmatian pelicans, and other threatened species. Environmental organisations argue that a resort of this scale would cause irreversible damage to the ecosystem — through construction, increased traffic, water demand, and light and noise pollution.

Albania has received international praise for declaring the Vjosa a Wild River National Park in 2023, the first of its kind in Europe. Critics say that allowing massive coastal development in the adjacent lagoon system contradicts that conservation achievement.

The Narta Lagoon is a critical habitat for flamingos and other migratory birds.

2. Property Rights & Land Ownership

Many local families, particularly from the Greek minority community, claim to hold property rights over land within the development zone. They argue that the project could create faits accomplis on land they have owned for decades. The developer, Zvërnec South Adriatic Development, has stated that the land is “private property, meter by meter” — implying all necessary land has been legally acquired. But opponents dispute this, and the lack of published permits makes independent verification difficult.

Land ownership in Albania is notoriously complex. Decades of communist-era collectivisation, followed by chaotic post-communist privatisation, left many properties with overlapping or unclear title claims. This history makes large-scale land acquisition contentious in any part of the country.

3. Transparency & Process

The fact that two development permits were granted but never officially published has raised red flags for critics, opposition politicians, and civil society groups. SPAK — Albania’s Special Prosecution Office Against Corruption and Organised Crime — has now launched an investigation focused on the procedures followed in granting development rights and changing the status of the land.

The Government’s Position

Prime Minister Edi Rama has defended the project, stating that the investment is on private property and that it represents a transformative economic opportunity for the Vlora region. He has characterised some of the protesters as “a gang of brainless thugs” and praised the state police’s response, while simultaneously allowing the disciplinary investigation to proceed.

The government’s broader argument is that Albania needs major foreign investment to develop its tourism infrastructure and compete with neighbouring Greece, Montenegro, and Croatia. Supporters of the project point to the 10,000 jobs it would create in a region with limited economic opportunities beyond seasonal tourism.

The International Response

The involvement of the Greek minority and the injury of a Greek citizen during the clashes have drawn Greece directly into the situation. The Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs submitted a diplomatic note to Albanian authorities, urging a full and transparent investigation and calling for responsibility to be assigned where warranted.

Former Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras also commented publicly on the events. Prime Minister Rama responded by accusing Greek politicians of turning “an isolated incident into a political issue.”

The controversy has also attracted attention from international media and environmental organisations, given the project’s connection to Jared Kushner and the sensitive ecological status of the area.

The 13th-century Monastery of Saint Mary on Zvernec island — a reminder of the area’s deep cultural heritage.

What Both Sides Are Saying

What Does This Mean for Travellers?

For broader travel planning, see our 7-day Albania itinerary and travel tips.

Vlora’s waterfront continues to welcome visitors as normal despite the nearby controversy.

What Happens Next?

The situation is evolving rapidly. Several developments are expected in the coming weeks:

• SPAK investigation — Albania’s anti-corruption prosecutors are examining the permit process and land status changes. Their findings could halt or restructure the project.
• Police disciplinary probe — Results of the investigation into Vlora police conduct during the 30 May clashes.
• Greece-Albania diplomatic exchanges — The Greek government’s involvement adds a geopolitical dimension that could influence the project’s future.
• Environmental assessments — Whether an independent environmental impact study is conducted (or made public) will be closely watched.
• Further protests — Opposition groups have indicated they will continue to demonstrate against the development.

We will update this article as the situation develops.