The probe into Artur Shehu comes on the back of months of protest against the development supported by Jared Kushner, the husband of Ivanka Trump, the US's president's second child. Residents of Zvërnec, on Albania’s southern coast, say parts of the land were wrongfully taken from local families before being transferred to Shehu. Prosecutors are examining the ownership history of the property and allege that Shehu and associates were involved in money laundering and international drug trafficking. Shehu denies wrongdoing. A Kushner-backed development group paid around $120 million (€105 million) for land intended for the resort. Funds from the sale have been frozen in a notary account pending the investigation. There is no allegation of wrongdoing against Kushner or the project’s other investors. The dispute has further fueled demonstrations that began over environmental concerns surrounding a planned development near protected wetlands, beaches, and wildlife habitats. The movement, dubbed the “Flamingo Revolution,” has broadened into protests against alleged corruption and the government of Prime Minister Edi Rama, who has backed the development. Protesters say the case reflects deeper problems surrounding land ownership and major development projects in Albania, with demonstrations demanding greater transparency and accountability from the government.
