Democratic Party MP Jorida Tabaku said today from the Security Committee that 250 minors are among more than 1,000 young people arrested or detained by police during nine days of protests in Tirana.
“More than 1,000 young people have been arrested and detained during these nine days of protests. Among them, 250 are minors, who have not been spared from violence, blows and forcible dragging, even after it was established that they were minors. They are young people who are asking for a different Albania.
“Today I met two 14-year-olds who were simply standing in a corner of the protest, without using violence and with their hands in their pockets, but they were not spared either. They are even asked why they are protesting!
Young people are protesting today precisely against this violence and the concentration of power. They are asking for a better Albania.
They are protesting over the economic conditions of their families, the lack of meritocracy, for more opportunities and for better education. Today, they are becoming the voice of an Albania that must rise. An Albania that is speaking through their voice, that has taken to the streets together with young people, and that is gaining more and more support.
Police violence and forcible dragging in the middle of the street, against girls, minors and anyone else, without any hesitation, show that Albania today is everything except European.
You cannot threaten young people with the removal of scholarships. You cannot threaten teachers with their salaries. You cannot motivate and reward police officers simply because they use violence. This is not a European Albania.
And it is precisely such an Albania that these young people are asking for: a European Albania“, Tabaku said.