This Special Update on Albania provides an overview of EED partners' coverage of the protests currently underway in Albania, dubbed the "Flamingo Revolution".
At a time when major international and national media were providing little coverage of events, EED media partners ensured documentation of local developments. Reporting by Citizens.al, Gjurmon.al, Exit.al, Ditar.al, Shteg.org, Nyje.al, Amfora.al and Qëndresa Qytetare brought the protests to national and international attention. These media and civil society partners have provided fact-based investigative reporting and fact-checking and they are contributing to local and international understanding of the economic, governance and EU integration dimensions of these protests.
This wave of peaceful protests began following a violent incident on 30 May during demonstrations against a development project in Zvërnec, a coastal village in Vlora, near the protected Narta Lagoon and the Vjosa River delta, one of the last wild rivers in Europe. Residents, environmental activists and civil society groups opposed the construction of a large luxury tourism project in the area, arguing that it threatens biodiversity and a protected landscape. Environmental organisations warn that construction in the delta could endanger 200 species, including flamingos, which have become the symbol of the civic resistance in Albania. The protests have since gathered thousands of people across the country and in the diaspora.
Protesters raised concerns about accountability, transparency, the rule of law and the relationship between political power, business interests and public land. They also highlighted their growing dissatisfaction with the limited coverage of events by mainstream media and their concerns about disinformation.
EED partners' field reporting, investigative journalism, explanatory reporting, and fact-checking helped bring national and international attention to the issue. As a result, the protests received significant international media attention, including coverage by Reuters, The Associated Press, The Guardian, CNN, BBC, Al Jazeera, Euronews, Deutsche Welle, Le Monde, Radio France Internationale, France 24, Le Soir, El País, La Repubblica, Der Spiegel, VRT, The Brussels Times, The Financial Times, and The Times.
This wave of peaceful protests began following a violent incident on 30 May during demonstrations against a development project in Zvërnec, a coastal village in Vlora, near the protected Narta Lagoon and the Vjosa River delta, one of the last wild rivers in Europe.
The Zvërnec case has revived criticism of amendments to the law on protected areas that opened the door to development in certain categories of protected landscape. An investigation by Balkan Investigative Reporting Network raised questions about disputed land ownership, the absence of an environmental assessment, and a lack of clarity about the companies behind the project. The case has since attracted the attention of Albania’s Special Prosecution Office, which launched an investigation into land acquisition and project procedures.
Over the following days the "Flamingo Revolution" gathered thousands of people across Albania and among the diaspora. Protesters raised concerns about accountability, transparency, the rule of law and the relationship between political power, business interests and public land. The protesters also highlighted growing dissatisfaction with the limited coverage provided by mainstream media and their concerns about disinformation about the events.
EED media actors in Albania include local, community and investigative media outlets. During the Zvërnec protests, these partners have helped fill an information gap by documenting events, investigating the project, countering disinformation and amplifying local voices.
Citizens.al - At the heart of the field reporting - from Zvërnec to Tirana
Citizens.al played a decisive role in bringing national and international attention to the developments in Narta at a time when the issue was still largely absent from mainstream media. Since February, Citizens.al has reported consistently from the ground, beginning with early warnings from activists against resort developments in Zvërnec and Sazan and continuing with daily coverage of the protests that began on May 7. Its newsroom documented the fence, the destruction of nature, the police presence, the works taking place inside the protected area, and the confrontation between protesters and private security guards. This coverage built on months of community-based and investigative reporting, turning what could have remained a local environmental dispute into a national public concern. In the past two weeks alone, Citizens.al’s reach has grown to more than 20 million.
Gjurmon.al was among the first media to report on the developments in Zvërnec. At the beginning, their reporting remained isolated islands of coverage, as very few media outlets were writing about the environmental destruction taking place inside the protected area. Its reporting on five protests, culminating in the events of 30 May, has generated broad media and public attention. Through field visits and continuous reporting, Gjurmon.al has followed this story step by step, and witnessed firsthand developments inside the protected area. Its reporting has accumulated millions of views and thousands of shares, becoming an information source even for major human rights organisations in the country. The Albanian Helsinki Committee has launched an investigation referring to footage published by Gjurmon.al.
Exit.al has focused on explaining the broader context of the development project, examining questions around transparency, investment structures and public accountability. Its research,, analysis and reporting on the project has informed the public and is helping to counter false narratives. Exit.al also provided insights into the economic implications of the project, and how it relates to Albania's EU integration. Its clear and accessible explainers helped wider audiences understand economic, governance and EU integration dimensions of the case, bringing substantial added value to the Albanian media landscape.
Ditar.al has provided real-time coverage through video reports, photo documentation, and live updates across its digital platforms. The outlet was among the first to report on viral posts generated by artificial intelligence, helping to clarify disinformation in the public debate. Its reporting contextualised public statements about the expected benefits of the investment, including references to the legal framework for strategic investments in Albania and potential tax exemptions for investors. These efforts contributed to a broader understanding of the protest and its wider political and informational context.
Shteg.org followed the protests from their early stages. It was among the first media to follow and report on the protests of the local community and activists in Pishë Poro–Nartë, documenting concerns about the project’s impact on the environment, property rights, and the decision-making process. Shteg played an important role in bringing the Pishë Poro–Nartë case to the attention of the EU. As the protests continued and the concerns raised by the local community, activists, and environmental experts were not being reflected in the broader public debate, they approached the European Commission directly and requested an official position. In doing so, they helped frame the issue not only as a local environmental concern but also as a question of compliance with European standards on environmental protection, transparency and the rule of law.
Nyje.al's small editorial team has focused on covering the protests through photo-news and photo-reportages, capturing the atmosphere, scale and human dimension of the movement. It helped to connect local events to wider civic mobilisation among Albanian diaspora communities in Berlin, Zyrih, Dortmund, Frankfurt, Heidelrberg, Vjenë, Hagë, Londër etc. Alongside photojournalism, Nyje has published news and opinions on the "Flamingo Revolution", and reporting related to the Zvërnec project, such as a photo-essay by Brunela Mërtiri, a local activist from Vlora. Its efforts focused on providing balanced reporting as a counterweight to that provided by traditional media captured by the state and the oligarchy.
From the early days of the protests, Amfora.al exposed how Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI) narratives have amplified misleading claims about the protests across international networks. By combining field reporting, investigative journalism, and fact-checking, Amfora is helping audiences distinguish between verified facts and coordinated manipulation.
The civil society organisation Qëndresa Qytetare advocated for transparency, accountability, democratic values and fundamental freedoms, condemning police violence against protesters, while challenging narratives that sought to portray the protests as externally driven. They contributed to raising public awareness of the Zvërnec issue through appearances in international media, including Reuters, Aljazeera English, and BBC Serbia, as well as debates with representatives of the ruling majority in domestic media.
The Zvërnec case demonstrates the vital role of independent, local and investigative media in Albania. By documenting events on the ground, scrutinising issues of public interest, providing verified information and countering misinformation, EED-supported partners ensured that developments of significant environmental and public concern remained visible. Their reporting informed citizens, contributed to international awareness and helped bring greater scrutiny to issues of transparency and accountability.
The subsequent ongoing protests have highlighted broader societal concerns and the importance of accurate, independent coverage during moments of civic mobilisation.
As highlighted in EED's Impact Brief published as part of the EED 2026 Annual Report, this work by EED-supported media partners points to the emergence of a democratic media ecosystem capable of filling information gaps and amplifying underrepresented voices. Sustaining this progress will require continued support for independent media in Albania, ensuring that reliable public-interest reporting can continue to hold power to account and serve citizens when it matters most.
