Albania investigates Kushner-backed property project amid misinformation

A raft of false claims has emerged around the controversial Albanian property development project linked to Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, concerning the uninhabited island of Sazan, as well as an area of the Vjosa-Narta coastal landscape.

Supporters say the project could boost tourism and investment. Critics argue it risks damaging one of the country’s most important natural habitats, as well as selling the country out to foreign investors.

Among the false allegations, one video circulated across social media claimed to depict the home of Albania’s prime minister, Edi Rama, burning during the protests in the country.

In reality, the footage can be traced back to February 2026 and displays protesters linked to the Democratic Party burning the former villa of Enver Hoxha, the communist leader who ruled Albania for more than 40 years.

One of the most widely circulated claims alleges that the Albanian real estate project is backed by or tied to the state of Israel.

However, there is no available information to support these theories, which have been fuelled by misleading connections with Kushner’s Jewish background, his past role in peace negotiations between Israel and Hamas, and investments by his hedge fund Affinity Partners in Israel.

One widely circulated social media image depicting a barbed-wire fence, with two flags — one Israeli and one Albanian — has been presented as a new border on the Zvërnec Island. This is false; in reality, the image was digitally manipulated to include the signs with the flags denoting the supposed border.

Other videos claim to show “Israeli settlers” taking over land in Albania, who are chased out by locals. The viral social media clip actually shows protestors in northern Albania, protesting against a separate luxury resort in Baks-Rjoll in Velipojë, and dates back to February 2026.

Prime Minister Rama also denied false allegations that the development project is part of a plan to relocate Palestinians — a claim which has repeatedly surfaced over the years.

He told EU News, “There is a narrative in the whole thing that this is about a hidden deal between [Israeli Prime Minister] Bibi Netanyahu and I, through Jared Kushner, to bring the Palestinians in that part of Albania, which is a total fantasy.”

Amid the misinformation, the resort project backed by Kushner’s Affinity Partners firm has sparked a real anti-corruption probe.

Albania’s anti-corruption prosecutor has opened an investigation into controversial legislation voted in 2024, loosening protections around the country’s most sensitive ecosystems.

Specifically, the investigation centres on the rapid regulatory approvals, potential fraudulent property titles, and questionable land transfers tied to the project, which is slated for the ecologically sensitive Vjosa-Narta wetland area — an important habitat for nesting sea turtles and migratory birds