Thousands of protesters marched through Albania's capital, Tirana, in one of the largest gatherings against a luxury resort project linked to US President Donald Trump's family, which has become a flashpoint for alleged corruption.
Since late May, protesters have gathered nightly to oppose plans to build a hotel complex involving Ivanka Trump and her husband, Jared Kushner, on a protected section of the Balkan coastline.
Saturday's march drew one of the biggest crowds since the movement began, with many members of the Albanian diaspora flying home to join. Waving Albanian and American flags, protesters released red balloons and chanted 'Albania is not for sale,' a slogan projected onto the facade of the prime minister's office.
'We are not against the development of the country; we are against the arrogance and lack of transparency surrounding projects that affect our lives,' said Alma, a science student.
The Kushner-backed resort, along with another development on the nearby island of Sazan, would be located near critical breeding grounds for migratory birds in the Vjosa-Narta protected area, including a flamingo colony.
Environmental concerns have merged with broader anger toward Prime Minister Edi Rama, whom protesters accuse of striking opaque deals along the coast. Many now say they will keep taking to the streets until he resigns.
Rama, defiant, told a party meeting he would not step down and argued the controversy is driven more by Kushner's name and 'the shadow of Trump' than the project itself.
