A hearing was held at the Court of First Instance in Vlora to determine the security measure against 32-year-old Geraldo Biba, who was arrested by the police after punching and dragging a protester in Zvërnec, Vlora.
It is learned that, after the prosecution requested the imposition of the security measure “arrest in prison”, the court decided to accept the prosecutor’s request and imposed the measure “arrest in prison” on the young man.
The punching and dragging of the protester caused public outrage, and police arrested Biba a few hours later.
Following this incident, the company managed by Geraldo Biba, “Mayor Security”, had its license revoked this Monday.
Athens demands a full investigation and protection of the property rights of the Greek minority, while the Albanian government and police react after incidents in the area where a tourist investment of over 4 billion euros is planned.
A project worth over 4 billion euros in Zvërnec seems to have alarmed official Athens, which has taken advantage of recent clashes between a group of protesters and private security guards, engaged in the protection of an area. Greece claims that the area where the investment is being made is populated by Greek minorities who have been violated, according to official Athens, because they want to protect their property.
But the claims of official Athens about a Greek population in the area have been refuted by Prime Minister Edi Rama. In an exhaustive reaction to Zvërnec, Rama says “for the first time yesterday I heard that there is a homogeneous Greek population. I had never heard this before, maybe because I am ignorant. I was amazed by the statement of the Greek Foreign Ministry. It was an act of violence, but not an act of state violence, as has happened with Albanians in Greek prisons. As has happened before with Albanians on the streets of Greece. For it to be an act of violence by a group of private guards and for the state to stand up to underline the ethnicity of the protestor, this is something that, in my opinion, does not serve our relations, which are once again in their best days”, said Rama.
Greek media write that Zvërnec, located within one of the Albanian-speaking and Greek-speaking regions of Albania, is considered one of the last almost untouched coastal areas in the Mediterranean.
According to Greek media, the project has raised serious concerns among the area’s ethnic Greek minority regarding the security of their properties. Following the protest, the Albanian State Police issued an official statement claiming that a group of protesters resorted to violence to damage the construction site’s fence.
“During the gathering, the situation escalated and a group of demonstrators committed violent acts with the aim of breaking the perimeter fence of the company’s construction site,” the statement said. Police identified the injured protester with the initials ES, claiming that he had forcibly entered the restricted area, writes greekreporter.
It is further noted that in recent years, the Albanian government has adopted legal changes that facilitate strategic investments, even within environmentally protected areas. These measures have provoked strong reactions from environmental organizations across Europe.
According to reports, the project is being led by the company “Zvërnec South Adriatic Development”, linked to international investment structures that include investors from Qatar, Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump. The couple aims to develop one of the most ambitious tourist projects on the Albanian Riviera in recent years, with an investment budget exceeding 4 billion euros.
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama condemned the acts of violence but sought to distance the clashes from the controversial tourism project, calling the latest reports “big lies.” In a response, Rama commended the State Police leaders for their swift response to the private security guards involved in the incident, as well as to the local police leaders in Vlora. “I commend the State Police leaders for their swift and accurate response, both to that mindless gang of hooligans who acted as security guards, and to the local police leaders in Vlora,” the Albanian Prime Minister declared.
Rama stressed that the government’s new “zero tolerance” policy toward law enforcement officers who undermine public trust is the right way forward. He also announced that he will soon present details of a major development plan for the country, which has been in the works for years.
Greek Foreign Ministry: Protect minority property rights
The Greek Foreign Ministry expressed “deep concern” about the clashes and lodged official protests with the Albanian authorities. Athens stressed the necessity of respecting the rule of law, protecting the rights and property of the Greek ethnic minority, and preserving ecologically protected areas in accordance with the European Union acquis, noting that respecting these standards is a prerequisite for Albania’s EU accession process.
The official statement of the Greek Foreign Ministry states that “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expresses its deep concern about the incidents that occurred yesterday, May 30, 2026, in Zvërnec, Albania, during a protest by residents regarding property rights, which resulted in the injury of a Greek citizen. The Greek Embassy in Tirana immediately took all necessary steps to ensure that he received the requested consular and medical assistance.
At the same time, the Embassy is developing official contacts with the Albanian side, demanding a full investigation of the incident and the establishment of responsibilities. We welcome the initial reaction of the Albanian authorities.
We emphasize the need for full respect for the rule of law, including the protection of the rights and property of members of the Greek National Minority, as well as the effective protection of environmental protected areas, in accordance with European standards, the respect of which constitutes a prerequisite for progress in the accession process.” /Pamphlet/