Tirana, June 1, 2026 — Tensions escalated in the Albanian capital today as protesters took to the streets to challenge ongoing development projects in the coastal area of Zvërnec. The demonstration, which included environmental activists and concerned citizens, moved from Skanderbeg Square to the Ministry of Interior before culminating at the Prime Minister’s Office.
Demonstrators expressed their outrage by surrounding the Ministry of Interior with barbed wire, a symbolic gesture protesting a recent incident in Zvërnec. During that encounter, a protester was reportedly assaulted by private security guards employed by a construction firm. Local police confirmed that the guards involved were subsequently arrested.
At the Prime Minister's Office, the crowd demanded the resignation of the head of government, carrying placards reading "Albania is not for sale" and "Cancel the project."
Speaking from Berat, Prime Minister Edi Rama strongly defended his administration's environmental record. He asserted that the Socialist Party has significantly expanded the country's protected areas, now covering nearly 20% of the territory.
"The Vjosa National Park was part of our program. We are the ones who put it under protection," Rama stated. He dismissed the protesters' claims as being fueled by "misinformation" and "political manipulation."
Regarding the specific status of Zvërnec, the Prime Minister insisted that the area remains a protected zone of Category V, refuting claims that its legal status had been altered. "Zvërnec has been a protected area, it is so today, and it will remain so tomorrow," he added.
