Interior Minister Ervin Demo spoke at a press conference on the situation created during the protests of recent days in Tirana, condemning acts of violence and stressing that they can no longer be considered part of a peaceful protest.
Minister Demo’s statement:
Good morning to everyone!
Dear Prime Minister,
In fact, this is a meeting with the chain of command of the State Police and, of course, the entire chain of command of the Tirana Police Directorate.
This meeting comes as a result of taking into account what we have all witnessed in recent days, and referring only to last night, something has happened that, to be honest, has crossed the red line.
Yesterday Police Station No. 3 was attacked by protesters. Not just the station as a building, but also State Police officers who were in the perimeter of the station and inside it were injured, some with burns, while protecting the State Police building with their bodies.
This is not only unacceptable, but it shows that the violent elements involved in this protest have reached levels that clearly show this is no longer a student protest. In fact, it can no longer even be called a protest.
What also naturally happened yesterday: we had attacks on certain political entities, while we also saw that violent elements of that protest found political asylum in a certain party. This shows very well the motivation of the violent elements who are within this movement.
In fact, I would mention a figure that makes all of us feel unwell: 295 people have been injured in these last 6 days. I am not dividing them at the outset into police forces or protesters. They are 295 Albanians who have suffered injuries in recent days, and in some cases not minor ones. There were police forces, there were active protesters, there were passersby, there were journalists. There are 295. The number then shows very well what the State Police has done with professionalism and self-restraint. Because of these 295 injured, 186 are police officers.
This ratio, roughly 2 in 3, shows very well your self-restraint and professionalism, which has been the focus throughout, regarding what is also the most important objective: protecting the lives of citizens.
You are the ones who must have maximum support, because you are the force that guarantees peaceful protests. And at no point, in all the communications we have had with the entire chain of command of the State Police, has the role and position of the State Police in guaranteeing peaceful protests, in guaranteeing the constitutional rights every citizen has, been called into doubt.
But it is unacceptable that we have, on the streets of Tirana for days now, violent elements who no longer have any limits regarding the objectives they decide to damage, starting from private businesses, public institutions, and up to political parties.
This very well shows a howling call which, unlike other countries going through similar protests, and I have been in contact with my counterparts and colleagues during these days, the only difference they have with our country is one: there, society, citizens and political parties have clearly positioned themselves against violence. Not against the right to protest, but against violence.
Unfortunately, what makes me feel very bad for all the police officers, who have endured barbaric violence during these days, is that today, after 6 days, we do not have political forces or even civil society stepping out and taking a stance regarding the violence that is happening in the capital.
This is one difference I see between these countries today.
Therefore, violence has no place in a democratic society. Violence is not a bargaining tool. The Albanian government, the Prime Minister, has made clear that with anyone and anytime, we, the government, are ready to talk, but what we must first agree on, and here there cannot be any line, where different positions may exist, is that violence cannot be accepted by anyone. Violence cannot be a bargaining tool.
I would like to thank all of you for your sacrifice. I know very well how difficult it has been. I have been with you throughout this whole time. We have followed things closely, we have been together with the Director, with the Police chief, almost every day, every night we have been at the hospital, although we do not make this public.
Because I think what is important at this moment is that we must be close to you. You are not alone, you will have our maximum support, and you have it because we are here to protect what is most sacred, which is Albanian democracy.
Thank you very much!