By Erestinah Jane | July 1, 2026
Six protesters were briefly detained by Albanian police after demonstrations outside Parliament in the capital, Tirana, turned confrontational during a plenary sitting on Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
The protest, attended by about 200 demonstrators, saw participants throw eggs, rubbish and water bottles at vehicles carrying Members of Parliament as lawmakers attempted to leave the parliamentary precincts.
The demonstrations are part of a month-long campaign against legislation that campaigners say permits large-scale tourism developments within environmentally protected areas.
The movement has become known locally as the “Flamingo Revolution” and has drawn support from environmental activists, civil society groups and opposition supporters.
Public anger initially centred on a proposed luxury tourism project linked to Ivanka Trump and her husband, Jared Kushner, in the protected Zvernec coastal reserve in southwestern Albania.
Environmental groups argue that construction within the sensitive ecosystem threatens biodiversity and could permanently damage one of the country’s most important natural habitats.
Tensions escalated in late May after construction equipment and fencing reportedly appeared near sections of the beach earmarked for development.
Since then, the demonstrations have expanded beyond environmental concerns to include broader demands for greater government accountability and stronger anti-corruption measures.
Protesters are also calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama, accusing his administration of lacking transparency in approving major development projects.
During Tuesday’s protest, demonstrators blocked exits from Parliament while chanting slogans and throwing eggs at vehicles carrying members of the ruling Socialist Party.
The confrontation intensified after some protesters hurled stones and water bottles toward police officers deployed around the parliamentary complex.
Riot police intervened to disperse the crowd, leading to scuffles in which several protesters were restrained and taken into custody.
Authorities confirmed that six individuals were arrested and transferred to different police stations for processing.
The arrests sparked another demonstration later in the day as hundreds of supporters marched to the Tirana Police Headquarters demanding the immediate release of those detained.
Following public pressure and scrutiny over police conduct during the operation, Albanian authorities released
