A proposed luxury resort development in Albania linked to President Donald Trump's daughter, Ivanka Trump, and son-in-law, Jared Kushner, is under growing scrutiny as prosecutors investigate the project and protests escalate across the country.

The Special Prosecution Office Against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK) has opened an inquiry into decisions made in 2024 that altered the legal status of land along the southern coast, including parts of the Vjosa-Narta lagoon and the nearby island of Sazan. Authorities are examining whether those changes—affecting areas previously classified as protected—cleared the way for the large-scale tourism project, which was approved in December 2025 by Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama.

The inquiry comes at the same time as public protests and viral footage circulate online, including of a protester being dragged away by security at the resort site, intensifying political and environmental pressure on the Albanian government. On Tuesday, thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of Tirana, the Albanian capital, for a second straight day, highlighting broader concerns about transparency, environmental protections and how major foreign investments are approved.

What to Know About Jared Kushner's Albanian Resort

The development, tied to Kushner’s investment firm, Affinity Partners, would transform a stretch of ecologically sensitive coastline into a high-end destination, with plans reportedly including 10,000 hotel rooms and villas. The site spans wetlands and coastal habitats known for supporting bird migration routes and marine wildlife, which environmental groups say could be at risk.

Newsweek reached out to Affinity Partners through online contact form for comment.

Rama has framed the project as central to boosting the country’s tourism appeal, saying it would help make Albania “a destination to be envied in the region” while defending it as a major investment opportunity. Kushner and Ivanka Trump visited Albania this year as discussions with the government continued, according to officials, though the final project proposal and environmental studies have not yet been completed.

What to Know About Albanian Protests

Opposition to the resort has been driven in part by claims that recent legislative and planning decisions favored development in areas long considered off-limits. Protesters have accused officials of failing to consult the public adequately and have called for the project to be stopped, with some demanding Rama's resignation. The protests have escalated in recent days after fencing and barbed wire went up around the resort site.

Protests over the Kushner-linked resort have been largely peaceful but have at times turned violent, with clashes reported between demonstrators and security personnel. The unrest comes amid broader anti-government protests in Albania in recent months over corruption allegations, some of which have turned violent, with clashes involving police, arrests and the use of tear gas reported.

Government officials have defended the broader strategy behind the project, arguing that attracting major foreign investment is key to boosting tourism and economic growth. Rama has said discussions with investors are ongoing and emphasized that environmental assessments are pending.

What to Know About SPAK Probe Into Jared Kushner's Albanian Resort

The area under review includes Sazan Island and coastal wetlands near Zvërnec, an ecologically sensitive zone that serves as habitat for species such as flamingos, Mediterranean monk seals and sea turtles. The probe is unfolding amid mounting protests from environmental groups and residents concerned about the impact of the project on the protected landscape.

SPAK was established in 2019 as part of Albania’s justice reforms, backed by the European Union and the United States, and operates independently of the national judiciary. It has pursued cases involving high-level officials and is widely regarded as one of the country’s most trusted institutions.

With authorities reviewing the legal framework that enabled the project, and demonstrations continuing in the capital, the future of the planned resort—one of the most ambitious developments proposed along Albania’s coast—remains uncertain.