Rama denies allegations to the Financial Times: I am not Albania’s “Godfather,” I tell them to go to hell

Prime Minister Edi Rama has responded to the Financial Times regarding the anti-corruption protests and demands for transparency which, according to the demonstrators, are linked to the luxury resort associated with Donald Trump’s son-in-law.

After several weeks of rallies, Rama dismissed accusations that he is Albania’s “Godfather.” The protests, which have been called the “Flamingo Revolution,” erupted after public anger over Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump’s planned $4 billion project on an island and near a nature reserve known for its flamingos. Demonstrators have called for Rama’s resignation and for him to face prosecution, claiming that systemic corruption has paved the way for international investors to build in protected areas.

“People say that I am the leader of all this. I tell them to go to hell. It’s that simple,” he said.

“It is not up to me to prove that I am not the Godfather; it is up to them to prove that I am the Godfather.”

Meanwhile, Albanian prosecutors have issued arrest warrants for more than a dozen businessmen suspected of drug trafficking and money laundering, including one person who had previously owned land in the area where Kushner and Ivanka Trump’s project is expected to be developed. A spokesperson for Kushner and his other partners in Albania did not respond to requests for comment.

Rama insisted that Kushner’s investments were legitimate and had no connection to the investigation being conducted into a former landowner.

In the interview with the FT, conducted in his office overlooking the boulevard where tens of thousands of people have protested every night for more than three weeks, Rama rejected the idea that the Albanian economy relies on money laundering.

“To say that the Albanian economy is based on money laundering, that is terrible,” Rama said.

“Money laundering is part of our economy, but it is not such a big problem,” he added.

“Do you think there is no money laundering in London? There is. But can you say that the British economy is largely money laundering? No.”

Albanian anti-corruption prosecutors have issued arrest warrants for 20 businessmen, whom they said were involved in international drug trafficking and money laundering. According to the allegations, billions of euros were funneled into major construction projects along the Adriatic coast and in the Albanian capital.

Among the names targeted is Artur Shehu, a dual U.S.-Albanian citizen who lives in Miami. In 2025, Shehu sold land near the nature reserve where flamingos nest to “Albania Land Development,” a company linked to the Kushner project. The deal drew the attention of anti-corruption prosecutors, who froze 128 million euros in payments pending the investigation. Shehu also did not respond to requests for comment.

According to Rama, his government has enabled prosecutors to investigate more aggressively, but this has also increased the perception that Albania is rife with corruption and organized crime.

“In fact, it is the opposite. Albania is fighting like never before and is far less corrupt today than it was.”

He also repeated the claim that the protests have been fueled by opponents of the American president, mentioning Iran among them.

“There is a lot of interest in killing this project… because of Trump,” he said.

“If it were not Jared Kushner… nobody would care about the flamingos, about Albania, about anything. It is all the hatred against Trump that creates all this scrutiny.”

Rama said he was confident that the coastal development plans would continue despite the protests.

“The important part is that the investors are not criminals and are not involved in money laundering,” Rama said.

“They are major investors. It is a historic opportunity for Albania.”