Tirana Court Releases Protesters Opposing Jared Kushner Resort

A court in Tirana released 19 protesters on Sunday who had been detained during violent demonstrations against a luxury coastal resort project linked to Jared Kushner. The detainees faced suspicions of disturbing public order, organizing illegal demonstrations, and refusing to obey police orders. While five individuals were cleared of charges, two were placed under house arrest and 12 are required to report to judicial police.

The unrest began in May after construction equipment appeared in a protected natural area. The protests subsequently evolved into a broader anti-corruption movement calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama. Tensions escalated last Thursday when police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse hundreds of protesters outside parliament, an encounter that left 15 police officers injured and resulted in 25 arrests.

On Saturday evening, tens of thousands of people gathered in Tirana for the largest demonstration of the movement to date. The political fallout from the clashes included the firing of former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku following allegations of corruption.