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

[meganl@mas.to]

Albania's Flamingo Revolution: Protests Against Kushner-Trump Luxury Resort Could Bring Down Gov't

Two important Albanian guests on, so this coverage is better than most Anglophone news media coverage I've seen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OsfbdT3ZPZw

#Albania #USpol #Corruption #Balkans #Europe #FlamingoRevolution

[meganl@mas.to]

Why This Jared Kushner-Backed Luxury Resort is Sparking Protests

Yeah, NYT sucks, but they're doing a good job presenting satellite photo comparison, photos taken on the ground by Albanian environmentalists, and the reporter's own experience to give the lie to what Albanian PM Edi Rama has said about nothing happening until thorough environmental impact standards had been met, etc.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9_76Up0UZ8

#Albania #USpol #Corruption #Balkans #Europe #FlamingoRevolution #USpol #Environment

[meganl@mas.to]

"Corruption and money laundering in post-communist Albania"

https://doi.org/10.2478/ejels-2026-0015

#Albania #Corruption #Balkans #Europe #FlamingoRevolution

[meganl@mas.to]

Day 41 of anti-corruption protest in Tirana, Albania.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XC5pgRraYM #Albania #USpol #Corruption #Balkans #Europe #FlamingoRevolution #Environment

[meganl@mas.to]

Back to basics, the English language Wikipedia page on the Flamingo Revolution, which is in its 42nd day today.

Quite a few Albanians who write English well have participated in writing and editing this entry.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flamingo_Revolution #Albania #USpol #Corruption #Balkans #Europe #FlamingoRevolution #Environment

[meganl@mas.to]

Day 42 of anti-corruption protests in Tirana, Albania

Dita e 42-të e protestës qytetare/ Kërkojnë dorëheqjen e Ramës

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jdjSVV0YWo

#Albania #USpol #Corruption #Balkans #Europe #FlamingoRevolution #Environment

[meganl@mas.to]

Repeating copaganda is a bad look for TLDR. Cops showed up in force that day after weeks of peaceful protest & were planning on instigating something. They moved a water cannon in in the morning before protestors were even there. Cops assaulted protestors after some few protestors threw eggs *at MP's cars*. Mention injured cops, but they neglect to mention the cops assaulted protestors both on video and reportedly inside police vans & police stations. One protestor had his nose broken, another person arrested had epilepsy and had several seizures under the holding conditions, 2 people who were arrested weren't even protestors. They were held for days and some are under house arrest still. Furthermore, the cops are now "investigating" those who left bad reviews at businesses that aligned with the corrupt oligarchs - they're investigating leaving reviews as "cyber terrorism". Western European media do a better job. These brave people are depending on it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LE92ePNvrBA #Albania

[meganl@mas.to]

Why so many Albanians hate the Trump-Kushner resort deal so much | DW News

Only towards the end do they get to the meat of it - Kushner's development was the straw that broke the camel's back. There were a LOT of straws on that back already.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZJMPjUYvzw

#Albania #USpol #Corruption #Balkans #Europe #FlamingoRevolution #Environment

[meganl@mas.to]

Day 43 of anti-corruption protests in Tirana, Albania

Sot protesta e 43-të kundër qeverisë, shqiptarët kërkojnë dorëheqjen e Ramës: Ju erdhi fundi

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSuUS8uWvfY

#Albania #Corruption #Balkans #Europe #FlamingoRevolution #Environment

[meganl@mas.to]

Machine translated: "Protestor: If you're going to investigate the "review" left by the people, first strip Balluku of her immunity."

Protestuesja: Nëse do të hetosh “review” që lë populli, hiq më parë imunitetin e Ballukut

To give an example of what the system is like here, some protestors started writing bad reviews of businesses whose owners are oligarchs or supportive of them.

The chief of police said the cybercriminal unit would be investigating them and they've been treating people who recently left bad reviews as "cyber terrorists".

The protestor contrasted that with the way the Deputy PM (Belinda Balluku) who abused their power was treated.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbL5i-XNQpM #Albania #Corruption #Balkans #Europe #FlamingoRevolution #Environment

[meganl@mas.to]

#Albania #Albanien #Corruption #FlamingoRevolution

https://mastodon.derstandard.at/@derStandard/116907442347882713

[meganl@mas.to]

Day 44 of anti-corruption protests in Tirana, Albania

Live cast as of time of my posting it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DMGX-TU5P8 #Albania #USpol #Corruption #Balkans #Europe #FlamingoRevolution #Environment

[selvari21106@mastodon.social]

@meganL Just to make sure I have this straight: The protests started over Kushner's hotel and the environmental concerns around it, but have since become a more general anti-corruption movement against Albania's PM, right?

[meganl@mas.to]

Day 45 of anti-corruption protest in Tirana, Albania

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKpzRL-zdcI #Albania #USpol #Corruption #Balkans #Europe #FlamingoRevolution #Environment

[meganl@mas.to]

"Albania's 'Flamingo Revolution': What's behind the protests?"

June 27, 2026 article (pre-dates the cop violence in Tirana)

https://www.dw.com/en/albanias-flamingo-revolution-whats-behind-the-protests/a-77710991 #Albania #USpol #Corruption #Balkans #Europe #FlamingoRevolution #Environment

[meganl@mas.to]

Protests / Marta Kos to Rama: Repeal the amendments to the law on protected areas

Protestat/ Marta Kos- Ramës: Shfuqizoni ndryshimet e ligjit për zonat e mbrojtura

In Brussels, in a meeting on Albania's integration process into the EU, the Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos said that Albania must repeal the 2024 changes to their law on protected areas (the changes that were made in a corrupt way to expedite Kushner, et al's development of protected public lands).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sj5WGmR1QgE

#Albania #USpol #Corruption #Balkans #Europe #FlamingoRevolution #Environment

[meganl@mas.to]

Albania’s Flamingo Revolution: Why Jared Kushner’s resort has become a Balkan political crisis

English language report from India (skip the integrated ad at the beginning).

This gives a lot more background than the reports from US networks for sure, but also more than most European networks. Also some info on India's interests.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuYLd5Im8GE

#Albania #USpol #Corruption #Balkans #Europe #FlamingoRevolution #Environment

[meganl@mas.to]

Day 46 of anti-corruption protests in Tirana, Albania

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7m2IKaASO0

#Albania #USpol #Corruption #Balkans #Europe #FlamingoRevolution #Environment

[meganl@mas.to]

Day 47 of anti-corruption protest in Tirana, Albania

Watch, like, boost and share to help keep international pressure on the current Albanian government to follow what protestors are demanding.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ouhF5AS7lk

#Balkans #Europe #Democracy #Resistance #FlamingoRevolution #Albania

[meganl@mas.to]

Even with my very bad command of Albanian, I can tell this guy is a helluva orator. The translation app seems to confirm that. Not only is his cadence good, but he is very good at crafting a call to the people that is more than just impromptu and heartfelt (although those are not bad things).

He calls out the corruption of governments by both major parties over the last 36 years, the cowardice of the Parliament, but he also describes and acknowledges all the different kinds of Albanians who have shown up to protest in this grassroots protest. And calls on people to understand but also persuade those who are not there as some may be burdened with work or fear being fired, etc.

He's really good and this is the 2nd day I've seen him speak.

#Albania #Corruption #Balkans #Europe #FlamingoRevolution #Environment