Protest in Albania against work on luxury development linked to Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner

[meganl@mas.to]

European Parliament calls for ban on construction in protected areas

"The European Parliament today adopted a resolution on the European Commission's Report on Albania for 2025, expressing deep concern about recent developments in the Pishë Poro–Nartë Protected Landscape, also known as Vjosë–Nartë."

https://citizens.al/en/2026/06/17/European-Parliament-calls-for-ban-on-construction-in-protected-areas/ #Albania #Corruption #Balkans #Europe #FlamingoRevolution #EU

[meganl@mas.to]

For the first time since protests started in Tirana, I cannot find a livestream of it on YouTube.

Looking at the Albania sub-Reddit, there are indications that a protest was planned as usual for tonight (in that a graphic was circulated with the details), but the two channels I have been able to rely on for livecasts are not posting any. And it is 45 minutes past what the normal start time would be.

EDIT: rumor of crackdown, arrests

#Albania #Corruption #Protest #Europe #FlamingoRevolution

[meganl@mas.to]

I'll keep looking for reporting from a reputable source, but I saw a FB post from a lawyer offering defense to protestors who've been arrested.

For those outside #Albania who'd like to help, watch/like DW's, Al Jazeera's, etc coverage of the #protest to incentivize them to keep covering the #FlamingoRevolution. And if you're in a position to communicate more immediately with them, ask them to follow up on why we're not seeing live coverage of the protest tonight, whether there were arrests, etc

[meganl@mas.to]

"Police Launches (sic) Criminal Proceedings Against 23 Protest Participants After Tirana Rally" June 18, 2026

https://albaniandailynews.com/news/police-launches-criminal-proceedings-against-23-protest-participants-after-tirana-rally #Albania #USpol #Corruption #Balkans #USpol #Europe #EU #FlamingoRevolution

[meganl@mas.to]

16 Protestors, Including Organizers, Face Criminal Proceedings Over Tirana Road Blockades

June 17, 2026

https://albaniandailynews.com/news/16-protesters-including-organizers-face-criminal-proceedings-over-tirana-road-blockades #Albania #USpol #Corruption #Balkans #USpol #Europe #EU #FlamingoRevolution

[meganl@mas.to]

The livecast started more than an hour later tonight. But people are still out protesting.

Tonight is the 19th day/night of protests in Tirana, Albania

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qY8tX7_VpM #Albania #USpol #Corruption #Balkans #Europe #EU #FlamingoRevolution

[meganl@mas.to]

On the 19th day, the protest goes to Parliament

"Hundreds of protesters today decided to change their protest route to march towards Parliament, where the next session was being held. During the march, citizens encountered MPs who were leaving.

Under the calls for revolution, they accused majority MPs like Blendi Çuçi or Mirela Kumbaro, who had just left Parliament, of corruption."

https://citizens.al/en/2026/06/18/ne-diten-e-19-te-protesta-shkon-ne-parlament/ #Albania #Corruption #Balkans #Europe #EU #FlamingoRevolution

[meganl@mas.to]

God, I love the humor of this banner. And it's also a relief from the many genAI signs people have made. #Albania #Corruption #Balkans #Europe #EU #FlamingoRevolution

[meganl@mas.to]

Op-Ed: The False Civil Society and the Real One By Mrika Temali

https://www.tiranatimes.com/the-false-civil-society-and-the-real-one/ #Albania #Corruption #Balkans #Europe #EU #FlamingoRevolution #Democracy

[meganl@mas.to]

20th night of anti-corruption protests in Tirana, Albania catalyzed by private goons working for Kusher-linked development

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HoG7BuBBxh4 #Albania #Corruption #Balkans #Europe #EU #FlamingoRevolution #Democracy

[meganl@mas.to]

Tirana, Albania - 14 June 2026

- SOUNDBITE (English) Marilda Ledi, protester:

"None of the Albanian youngsters that are protesting here are against the development, (they) are against corruptive development and development that exploits natural environment and everything else."

- SOUNDBITE (English) Ardesian Binjakaj, protester:

"I came here to protest because we are currently facing a very corrupt government who is doing a lot of things against their own people. They're doing everything they can in their power to suppress us as protesters. They're doing everything they can in order to pocket and increase their earnings while the average citizen is out here suffering for basic needs, such as water, healthcare, and a lot more."

-. Mid of protesters chanting UPSOUND "Rama step down"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igVYTJGJnRs

#Albania #Corruption #Balkans #Europe #EU #FlamingoRevolution #Democracy

[meganl@mas.to]

"The largest anti-government protest in Albania / Motorcade with hundreds of protesters from the diaspora"

Too bad it was a car protest, though. I guess it makes it harder for authorities to charge them with "blocking traffic" than charging pedestrians and cyclists.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cN0RQ6SfPhM #Albania #Corruption #Balkans #Europe #EU #FlamingoRevolution #Democracy

[meganl@mas.to]

"Wait for us, we're coming!", "Rama in prison!"/ Diaspora together, convoy of Albanians towards Tirana

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2mkrIq-7eU #Albania #Corruption #Balkans #Europe #EU #FlamingoRevolution #Democracy

[meganl@mas.to]

21st night of anti-corruption protests in Tirana.

Formally incorporating many diaspora Albanians who arrived in Tirana today to join in.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YX4awxIRLEk #Albania #Corruption #Balkans #Europe #EU #FlamingoRevolution #Democracy

[meganl@mas.to]

They spent the night in front of the Prime Minister's Office, police demand the protesters leave

"The main protest in Tirana starts at 6pm every night (so those who work day jobs can attend).

This hardy group tried to set up overnight outside the prime minister's office with chairs and patio umbrellas. The police didn't like that."

The auto-translate is bad. What they're chanting is "Rama (the PM's surname) resign!"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPCrU1S0Qao #Albania #Corruption #Balkans #Europe #EU #FlamingoRevolution #Democracy

[meganl@mas.to]

Protestë historike para Kryeministrisë. Dita e 22-të e revoltës për dorëheqjen e Edi Ramës

22nd day/night of protests. Usually a big group gathers by 6pm, but it looks like they're talking with folks who are still demonstrating (after an overnight presence) in front of the PM's building.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GG6Ci1xqfY #Albania #Corruption #Balkans #Europe #EU #FlamingoRevolution #Democracy

[meganl@mas.to]

Albania’s Street Revolt Turns (Party) Political

"The protest, now in its 21st consecutive day, has become openly political. It is no longer mainly about the disputed Zvërnec project, nor only about the lack of transparency surrounding so-called strategic investment projects. Zvërnec was the match that lit a much larger fire.

That fire had been building for years: over bad governance, corruption, arrogance, institutional deafness, the concentration of power in one man’s hands and the personalization of authority. For many protesters, Albania no longer resembles a functioning parliamentary democracy. As one local analyst put it, the country has come to look more like a sultanate, where one person controls and directs almost everything."

https://www.tiranatimes.com/albanias-street-revolt-turns-political/

#Albania #Corruption #Balkans #Europe #EU #FlamingoRevolution #Democracy

[accordionbruce@mastodon.social]

@meganL
Imagining what it would take to make that happen over here…

See Minneapolis… etc

It’s happening bit by bit

[meganl@mas.to]

Revolta në Kakome: Rrëzohet rrethimi që prej dy dekadash pengonte hyrjen në plazh

Machine translation: Kakome riots: The fence that had blocked access to the beach for two decades has collapsed

Kakome is between Sazan Island (where Kusher development deal is) and the Greek Island of Corfu, further down along the Albanian coast.

"The civic uprising in Kakome has brought down the fence that had been preventing citizens from freely accessing the beach for nearly 20 years. This development has been seen by many participants as a symbol of the strength of civic unity. According to them, citizens have understood that only united can they protect rights, property and the public interest, taking their destiny and that of the country into their own hands."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WA_OmVPshKc

#Albania #Corruption #Balkans #Europe #FlamingoRevolution #Democracy

[meganl@mas.to]

Interview in Italian with an Albanian member of the diaspora (in Netherlands) who came back to support the protests. Diaspora Albanians came back before this weekend to protest, but there was an organized return of diaspora Albanians just this past Saturday.

He speaks of how the corruption and patronage keep Albanians poor, forcing better-educated anti-corruption Albanians to leave the country.

For decades, Albania's youth have had to emigrate to survive & to support their extended families.

There was no reckoning for the oligarchs under Hoxha. Many of the same people run things now under "democracy".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgoBwf8D-Rk #Albania #Corruption #Balkans #Europe #Democracy