Clashes between protesters and police forces in front of the Prime Minister’s Office and the “Martyrs of the Nation” Boulevard have escalated. As soon as students and protesters arrived, State Police fired tear gas to disperse them from the Assembly and Prime Minister’s Office areas, but the protesters responded with stones. Despite water cannons and tear gas, it is becoming impossible to clear the protesters.
What stood out during these minutes was the presence of police officers on the roof of the Prime Minister’s Office building. They were captured by cameras and photographers as they threw tear gas canisters directly from above onto protesters in the square. Three protesters have been admitted to the Emergency Service at the University Trauma Hospital (SUT), where they are receiving medical treatment for their injuries.
According to information so far, all three are in good health and conscious. One of the protesters stated that he was injured the previous day but only came to the hospital today to receive the necessary medical care. Two other protesters are receiving treatment in the emergency department. So far, no further details have been released about the circumstances in which the injuries occurred or about their nature and severity.
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Four hours after clashes with police repeatedly broke out at the Ministry of Education, protesters began to march. They are on the “Martyrs of the Nation” Boulevard and are heading toward the Prime Minister’s Office. On the roof of the Ministry of Interior, police officers are throwing tear gas, and in response the protesters are shouting and voicing angry reactions.
Tensions and verbal clashes were also recorded on this fifth day of the student protest in front of the Ministry of Education, where protesters addressed police officers in harsh tones, accusing them of using force against young protesters and of throwing tear gas. One young man showed a wound on his body, saying that protesters were being shot with rubber bullets by the State Police. “They are shooting us with rubber bullets,” the young man said, showing the wound he received during the gathering, and that this is happening for the first time during these days of unrest in Tirana. Meanwhile, a female student was also wounded.
Part of the protesters have been isolated and are being held trapped by police cordons inside the alleys of the neighboring neighborhoods, not being allowed to come out onto the main axis of Durrës Street. The rest of the protesters on the main street are facing a massive intervention by law enforcement. To disperse the crowd, police are using pressurized water and large amounts of tear gas, while reports say rubber bullets have also been fired at protesters.
One of the protesters addressed the police with strong words, asking why they were acting this way against young people. “These are your children, for God’s sake! Aren’t you sorry? Are you doing these things for Edi Rama?” he can be heard saying, objecting to the intervention of the security forces. A female citizen also expressed indignation toward the officers, reminding them that they are paid from citizens’ taxes and accusing them of harming young people with the use of gas. She also mentioned the young man injured during the protest the night before, sharply criticizing police actions.
Violent clashes between police and protesters are currently taking place. There is tear gas, stones and rubber bullets.
It is reported that the health condition of 21-year-old Muhamet Skana, who collided with a police officer during the protest, has improved, but problems continue. The young man still cannot recall or describe what happened from the moment of the incident, his escort to the police station, and until arrival at the Trauma Hospital. Family members have made it known that they find it difficult to speak to the media, but have stressed that they will pursue the case to the end. Also, traffic police officer in Shkodër, Fazlli Rama, is on the road to recovery, in stable condition.
Meanwhile today Prime Minister Rama presented the “My Damage” window on E-Albania, which will serve to compensate small businesses that were damaged by protesters during the last 4 days. In a post on his Facebook account, the prime minister explained how the platform will work and added that 10 teams from the Tax Office will be on the ground to verify the damage, saying that “we will turn this rubble into symbols of our strength to move forward”.
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