Thousands of Albanians have taken to the streets to protest plans for a new Trump-linked resort. The demonstration reflected mounting public opposition to a development that critics say would come at the expense of one of the country's natural areas.
The development is being led by an investment firm owned by Jared Kushner, who is the son-in-law of the US President. The involvement of the firm has placed the project at the centre of attention as the plans move forward.
Under the plans, a protected island off the coast of Albania would be turned into luxury real estate. The prospect of transforming a protected area into high-end development has been a central point of contention for those opposing the project.
Protesters say the development would endanger local wildlife. They argue that the site is one of the only areas in Albania with this level of biodiversity and this type of ecosystem, making it especially sensitive to large-scale construction.
One protester said their opposition stood regardless of potential financial gains, GDP growth or other economic development. They said that in the end the project is about exploiting Albania's natural heritage and resources that belong to the Albanian people.
The protest underlined the tension between the promised economic benefits of the resort and concerns over the environmental cost. For those who marched, the protected status of the island and its biodiversity outweighed the arguments in favour of the development.