The government of Socialist Prime Minister Edi Rama is under increasing pressure as Albanians continue taking to the streets to call for his resignation, as well as the leader of the opposition, Sali Berisha, faulting them and their parties for some thirty years of corruption ever since the end of the communist regime in 1991.

The catalyst for the protests first began over a multi-billion-dollar luxury resort plan by Jared Kushner and his business partners pursuing the creation of two resort properties through investment firm Affinity Partners that will add around 10,000 hotel rooms and villas to Albanian coastal lands.

One planned location, the abandoned Sazan Island, is the home of a former Soviet military base. The other property in Zvërnec is said to be home to the Vjosa-Narta protected landscape where monk seals and flamingos make their homes and sea turtles nest.

EUROPEAN CAPITAL ROCKED BY VIOLENT PROTESTS AS GOVERNMENT CORRUPTION PROBE FUELS UNREST

Agim Nesho, former Albanian ambassador to the U.S. and the United Nations, told Fox News Digital that, «Unlike some of the misinformation in the media, the protests in Albania are not against the family of President Donald Trump and foreign investors like Jared Kushner. These investors are bringing in $4 billion dollars into Albania that will create jobs and opportunity for our youth. 

«They are building on private land whose protected status was revoked years ago by Rama and his oligarchs. Global investors have standards and demonstrate accountability, and there is a hope they will show more care and consideration for the environment than Edi Rama and the business interests around him, who would instead build there on their own,» he said.

Nesho claimed that «After 12 years and at least three stolen elections, including last year’s parliamentary election which was not recognized by the United States, and which handed Rama a supermajority that can change laws and the constitution, Rama’s days now look to be numbered.»

Eric Czuleger, Editor-in-Chief of The Under Report, has lived in Albania for five years and has documented the growing protests. He told Fox News Digital that «Rama’s government has never been under such direct pressure from the Albanian people and his response is instructive. First, he denied the existence of the protests, claiming that they were a couple hundred people with an axe to grind. When they grew, the international media forced the domestic media [to] stop its blackout. Suddenly, the protests were a ‘hybrid war’ spurred on by Iran and Russia.»

Protestors hold banners as they gather in front of the Albanian Prime Minister’s Office to demonstrate against the construction on the southern coast of Albania a luxury resort near a protected natural area, in Tirana, on June 10, 2026.  (Adnan Beci / AFP via Getty Images)

The protests, which began in May, have not swayed Prime Minister Rama’s support for planned investments. The Rama government sent a lengthy response to Fox News Digital on behalf of the prime minister directed at «all interested foreign parties and individuals, who have spread all kinds of misinformation and launched all kinds of baseless attacks all over the globe against a highly ambitious project with the potential to become another role model for how next-generation tourism destinations can be built.»

ALBANIANS RALLY BY THE THOUSANDS AGAINST RULING SOCIALIST GOVERNMENT

His statement added that «Sazan Island is state property and has never been intended, nor requested, to be sold.» He also said that the «area in Zvërnec is privately owned land,» and explains that additional claimants to the land have taken their claims to court. 

In an effort to clear up misconceptions, Rama’s statement said that «the project must undergo not merely an ordinary Environmental Impact Assessment, but an In-Depth Environmental Impact Assessment.» Rama also claims that the project location «has no connection whatsoever with the Vjosa Delta,» and says that claims that protected status labels were removed from development areas to allow for investment «is one of the greatest falsehoods inflated beyond all imagination.»

Protestors with their faces covered by images depicting Albania’s Prime Minister Edi Rama (R) and Albanian opposition leader Sali Berisha gather in front of Albania’s Prime Minister’s Office in Tirana on June 12, 2026. (Adnan Beci / AFP via Getty Images)

Irrespective of Rama’s defense of the projects, on Wednesday, the European Parliament urged the Albanian government to stop construction on protected lands, Politico reported. They also called for a moratorium on further permits and construction in protected areas.

A source familiar with the situation with the luxury resort project told Fox News Digital that some of what is circulating online about the project is fabricated and doctored, and that some disinformation has emerged from outside the country.  

ALBANIAN OPPOSITION LAWMAKERS LIGHT FLARES, SCUFFLE WITH POLICE AMID PARLIAMENT CHAOS OVER CORRUPTION PROBE

Asher Abehsera, Chair of Sazan Real Estate Development LLC, told Fox News Digital that «for four years, we have worked toward creating a world-class destination on the Albanian coast—one rooted in thoughtful design, environmental stewardship, and long-term economic opportunity. Our goal is simple: celebrate Albania’s natural beauty, create jobs, and build something future generations can be proud of.» Abehsera said that the project’s «future will ultimately be determined by Albania and the Albanian people.»

As the protests continue, Czuleger said that Albanians are both «concerned that nothing will happen» and «concerned that something bad could happen» if the Rama government does step down. «If leadership doesn’t change now, then people wonder if the corruption will ever stop,» he said. «If leadership does change then it’s possible someone worse comes in.» Czuleger said that «protesters are tired,» and «the news cycle is moving on.» Noting that the «only thing that will bring a change to the administration is patience, pressure, and a clarification of the movement’s goals.»

Albanian actor and artist Florjan Binaj told Fox News that the protests «are the biggest protests that have ever happened in Albania since 1991.» He called the protest atmosphere «amazingly powerful.

Binaj said that he plans to join the protests for «as long as [he] can,» noting that «the protesters want Rama’s resignation» to pave the way for an alternative government.

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama speaks during a press conference following the EU-Albania Intergovernmental Conference in Brussels, Belgium, on May 26, 2026. (Daniel Gnap/NurPhoto)

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Nesho added,» The protesters have risen up due to the fact that one of the poorest countries in Europe can count billions and billions in corruption by a government that holds itself accountable to no one. It is difficult for the protesters to compromise and negotiate with PM Rama under these circumstances. The only path is resignation of the government and early elections under international monitors.»

The Rama government did not respond to direct questions about protesters’ concerns. 

La Policía Nacional Civil (PNC) de El Salvador detuvo a tres hombres acusados de estafar a una familia con la supuesta venta de un vehículo alquilado, tras recibir un adelanto de USD 11.000 y agredir a las víctimas cuando intentaron recuperar el dinero.

Según el reporte policial difundido este domingo 21 de junio, al descubrir el engaño la familia reclamó la devolución del pago y los sospechosos les agredieron. Uno de los afectados sufrió heridas con una navaja, fue trasladado a un hospital y permanece estable.

Los agentes de seguridad indicaron que el encuentro para la entrega del carro se pactó la noche anterior en el departamento de La Libertad, distrito de Quezaltepeque, pero las víctimas fueron llevadas con engaños al caserío La Angostura, cantón Santa Bárbara, distrito El Paraíso, en el departamento de Chalatenango (al norte del territorio salvadoreño).

Con tareas de investigación e inteligencia, la institución informó que los sospechosos fueron ubicados en flagrancia en Lourdes, del distrito de Colón, en La Libertad Oeste. Los identificó como Carlos Armando M. P., de 28 años; Gerson Alexander E. O., de 27; y Demar Hander F. P., de 42. Serán remitidos por intento de homicidio, privación de libertad, estafa y agrupaciones ilícitas.

La PNC pidió a la población que acuda a sus delegaciones si ha sido víctima de los detenidos.

El Código Penal de El Salvador castiga la estafa y la privación de libertad como delitos distintos, con penas que van de 1 a 8 años de prisión según la conducta y sus agravantes, y traza una frontera decisiva entre el fraude penal y el simple incumplimiento de una deuda civil: para que haya estafa, el engaño debe existir antes de que la víctima entregue su dinero o sus bienes.

La escala penal más alta dentro del material analizado corresponde a la estafa agravada, sancionada con entre 5 y 8 años de cárcel. La modalidad básica, en cambio, prevé entre dos y cinco años cuando el perjuicio económico supera 200 colones o su equivalente en dólares.

Según la regulación descrita, la estafa integra los delitos contra el patrimonio. La ley salvadoreña diferencia la figura básica, la forma agravada y otras modalidades específicas definidas por el medio utilizado o por la dimensión del perjuicio causado.

El artículo 215 del Código Penal define la estafa simple cuando una persona obtiene un provecho injusto en perjuicio de otra mediante engaño. Para que el caso sea penal y no un conflicto civil, la jurisprudencia de la Sala de lo Penal exige una secuencia precisa de hechos.

Ese orden empieza con el engaño o ardid: el autor debe simular hechos falsos o deformar la verdad antes de recibir el dinero. Después viene el acto de disposición patrimonial, cuando la víctima, inducida por ese engaño, entrega voluntariamente sus recursos o bienes, y finalmente debe existir un perjuicio económico real.

Ese criterio es el que separa una deuda común de una estafa. Si una persona recibe un préstamo o firma un contrato de buena fe y luego no puede pagar por problemas económicos, el asunto es civil; para que la Fiscalía General de la República actúe penalmente, debe demostrarse que el engaño fue planeado desde el inicio con intención de no cumplir.

Sobre la privación de libertad, la modalidad básica de ese delito, regulada en el artículo 148, se configura cuando una persona encierra o detiene a otra sin orden legal o sin tener derecho para hacerlo. La pena prevista es de 1 a 3 años de prisión. La misma disposición incluye una reducción excepcional del castigo si el autor libera voluntariamente a la víctima dentro de los primeros tres días de cautiverio, sin haber conseguido el fin que perseguía ni haber causado otro daño.

Vice President JD Vance pushed back Saturday on criticism that the deal signed between President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian would hand Tehran economic benefits without requiring meaningful changes in the terror-sponsoring nation’s behavior.

In a morning interview on «Fox & Friends,» Vance brushed aside concerns raised by Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and other Republicans who say Iran could eventually use the memorandum of understanding’s economic incentives to rebuild its military and nuclear programs. The MOU is meant to serve as a framework for a long-term peace agreement.

«I like Roger, he’s a friend of mine, but I think that he’s wrong on this,» Vance said. «What the MOU says is that if the Iranians behave over a long period of time, they could get some of the benefits of this bargain.»

Critics on both sides of the aisle have charged that the agreement signed earlier this week misses key objectives for the United States, including the dismantling of Iran’s nuclear weapons capabilities and enriched uranium stockpiles, limits on its ballistic missile program and a requirement that Tehran end its support for regional proxy groups such as Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis.

TRUMP’S IRAN DEAL ‘GIVING A LOT MORE TO GET A LOT LESS’ THAN OBAMA’S, SENATOR SAYS

Wicker claimed the 60-day ceasefire agreement set forth in the MOU undermines the United States’ victories in Operation Epic Fury «in ways that are completely out of step with the president’s goals.»

«Specifically, the $300 billion fund for the reconstruction and economic development of Iran — though not funded by U.S. taxpayers — would make Iran’s payoff under President Obama’s 2015 deal look like a pittance by comparison,» Wicker said in a statement. 

Wicker argued that easing sanctions on Iran while requiring Israel to cease military action against Hezbollah is misguided, given the group’s continued attacks on Israel’s northern border and its backing from Tehran.

VANCE TOUTS DESTRUCTION OF IRANIAN NUCLEAR PROGRAM AS TRUMP ANNOUNCES ISRAEL-IRAN CEASEFIRE

«The Iranian regime has not renounced its ultimate goal — ‘Death to America, Death to Israel,’» Wicker said. «The regime will invest every penny it receives to further that aim.»

But Vance said critics have incorrectly assumed Iran would receive economic benefits regardless of its conduct. Sanctions relief and regional economic aid would only be considered after Iran demonstrates sustained compliance with the agreement and abandons efforts to advance its nuclear program, Vance said.

Senate Armed Services Committee Chair Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., departs a meeting with Senate Republicans at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on June 28, 2025, as lawmakers work to advance the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act. (Al Drago/Getty Images)

«The United States has all the cards,» Vance said. «The [Strait of Hormuz is] now open, the Iranian military is now destroyed. The Iranians have committed to, of course, destroying that stockpile of the rich material, but we have a lot of economic pressure applied to the Iranians that we would be willing to relieve if they do what we need them to do.»

Vance said the agreement is already delivering tangible results, citing the movement of 16 million barrels of oil through the Strait of Hormuz on Friday after the waterway reopened to commercial traffic. He said the administration is focused on ensuring Iran is permanently blocked from restoring its nuclear program.

«We’re going to go after that enriched stockpile of uranium,» Vance said. «We’re going to try to reset the situation that we have, so that the Iranians don’t just have a destroyed nuclear program now, but so that we can say with some confidence, through a combination of inspections and verification, that they’re never going to be able to rebuild that program.»

Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff listen as Vice President JD Vance speaks during a news conference after meeting with representatives from Pakistan and Iran in Islamabad, Pakistan, April 12, 2026.  (Jacquelyn Martin/Pool/Getty Images)

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Vance also expressed confidence that a ceasefire between Iran and Israel would hold long enough for negotiations to continue. U.S. officials are preparing for talks involving Iranian, Qatari and Pakistani representatives, which could begin within days, according to Vance.

«There’s a fork in the road here,» Vance said. «The United States wins either way, but I think that what ultimately happens from here is very much up to the Iranians.»