Albanian Police Injure Over 300 During Tirana Anti-Corruption Rally
Water cannons and tear gas were deployed against thousands of demonstrators on Saturday, following months of unrest over living costs and government corruption.
By Robert Hayes ·
Albania’s political crisis deepened on Saturday when security forces in the capital, Tirana, used heavy equipment to disperse a large antigovernment rally. The intervention left more than 300 people injured, including both protesters and police officers, according to official figures.
Dozens of demonstrators were arrested during the clash. Several government buildings were targeted by the crowd, which escalated after organizers urged students and citizens from across the country to gather. The protest was part of a sustained wave of unrest that began in mid-October over deteriorating school conditions and rising living costs.
Although tensions had appeared to ease in the days prior, Saturday’s event saw police deploy water cannons, tear gas, and rubber bullets. Local media reported that authorities increased security measures around the capital and conducted vehicle checks on roads leading into the city. A wide coalition of groups supported the rally, including university professors, artists, and opposition parties.
The Ministry of Education building became a primary target for demonstrators. Participants threw stones at the structure and rolled burning trash bins toward it, reflecting the sector’s central role in the ongoing discontent.
This latest episode extends a series of intermittent antigovernment protests that started in May. The initial unrest was triggered by reports of a luxury hotel project connected to the family of United States President Donald Trump. Since then, public anger has broadened into a campaign against corruption, with demonstrators demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama, a member of the Socialist Party.
Rama has attributed the violence to foreign actors, specifically accusing Russia and Iran of spreading misinformation online. He also proposed dialogue, a gesture symbolized on Saturday by red cushions placed outside government headquarters. Protesters responded by setting the cushions on fire.
Signs carried by demonstrators criticized not only Rama but also his main rival, centre-right leader Sali Berisha, indicating that the public is holding the entire political class accountable for the current state of the country.
Source: Al Jazeera
