Deputy Minister of the Interior Xhemal Qefalia says the Police Oversight Agency (AMP) has suspended officers who exceeded their powers during protests in Tirana. He condemned violence from both sides, stressing that police and protesters should not see each other as adversaries. Qefalia raised concern over the doubling of the number of officers injured during clashes, while arguing that the duty of the police is to guarantee the safety of citizens and protect state institutions.
“In this police organization, which has 12,000 people, there may be individuals who have overstepped their authority, and AMP has carried out its duty by suspending those employees who have used excessive force,” he said. Another issue raised by the deputy minister was the involvement of minors in violent protests. He stressed that striking them cannot be justified, but called for children not to be involved in clashes with police.
“We have never said that it is right to strike a minor”, Qefalia stated, calling for confrontations to be avoided. In conclusion, he stressed that the concerns of students and citizens should be addressed through dialogue, while underlining that the right to protest must not turn into violence. “There are 1,001 problems that may be real, but through dialogue results can be achieved,” he said, adding that “political change does not happen through violence.”