Clashes between protesters and police in Tirana continued into Saturday evening, on the fifth day of protests demanding the resignation of the government of Prime Minister Edi Rama.
After a rally in front of the Ministry of Education, the clashes spread to the city center, including near the Prime Minister’s Office, where the RENEA special forces were also deployed. Public buildings, garbage containers and vehicles were set on fire.
Protesters threw stones, Molotov cocktails and pyrotechnic devices at police, while law enforcement used tear gas, water cannons and rubber bullets to disperse them.
At a press conference, General Director of the State Police Skënder Hita confirmed the use of rubber bullets, saying their use is permitted in a limited manner. At the same press conference, Hita also announced that seven police officers have been suspended from duty and a disciplinary investigation has been launched against them for exceeding their authority.
US Congressman Joe Wilson expressed concern over the escalation of the crisis in Albania and urged the government to refrain from any violence against protesters.
“The Albanian people deserve freedom, the rule of law and institutional accountability,” he wrote on X, adding that young people deserve to have a voice in the future of their country.
According to police data, more than 500 protesters have been detained so far, 330 of whom have been released. Around 120 police officers and 45 protesters have been registered as injured, although many cases of protester injuries are likely not to have been recorded.
Peoples’ Advocate Endrit Shabani has published the preliminary findings of monitoring carried out over the four days of protests in the country, identifying concerns related to detention conditions, the treatment of minors and allegations of violence against persons deprived of their liberty.
In a statement to the media, Shabani said that teams from the National Mechanism for the Prevention of Torture had monitored the situation at police stations No. 1 through No. 6 in Tirana, at the Security Block, at the Trauma Hospital, as well as at the police stations in Korça, Vlora and Shkodra.
According to the People’s Advocate, 214 detained persons have been contacted in the last 72 hours, while confidential interviews have been conducted with arrested, escorted and injured persons, doctors and psychologists.
The People’s Advocate condemned all forms of violence that have accompanied the protests of recent days.
“We condemn violence against police officers. We condemn violence against protesters. We condemn damage to public and private property, including businesses”, the statement said.
What are the protesters’ demands?
Students say they are protesting against high education costs and government corruption, while their main demand is the resignation of the Government led by Edi Rama. High school students have also joined them. Classes have been boycotted at universities in Tirana and several other cities, as well as at some high schools in the capital.
They say they are also angered by the sale of untouched areas of the Albanian coast for the construction of a luxury tourist complex, backed by Jared Kushner, son-in-law of US President Donald Trump.
The unrest poses a challenge for Rama, who won a fourth term last year, promising to lead Albania toward membership of the European Union. He aims for the country to join the EU by 2028.
“These are foreign hands that do not want Albania to be calm”, he said in a video published on his Facebook page.
Rama insisted that the protests have nothing to do “with the troubles, the problems, the legitimate aspirations of everyone who wants a better life”.
“All of this is that same hand, that same hand that has gripped the Albanian opposition by the throat, and that has burned and destroyed Albania more than once, and that is ready to burn and destroy it again, so that it does not let it move forward”, he said./REL/