Albania Protests Spread to Other Cities on Third Day

Protests against Prime Minister Edi Rama entered a third consecutive day in Tirana on Thursday 15 October, and spread to several other Albanian cities for the first time, Albanian Daily News and Exit.al reported.

In Tirana, protesters broke into the Ministry of Economy and took items including a printer, while windows were smashed at the Central Election Commission's headquarters. Clashes also took place along Dëshmorët e Kombit Boulevard and Elbasan Road, where police used tear gas and water cannon. Albania's State Police said 51 officers were injured and 65 people were detained for questioning on suspicion of attacking officers, public institutions and property.

Unrest reaches other cities

Exit.al reported that protests or clashes with police were also recorded on Thursday in Shkodër, Durrës, Korçë and Elbasan. In Shkodër, demonstrators smashed windows at the offices of both the ruling Socialist Party and the opposition Democratic Party, the outlet said. Parliament's Thursday session was cancelled because of the unrest, and most banks and many businesses in Tirana closed for the day, with banks emptying their ATMs, Exit.al reported.

Rama rejects calls to resign

Mr Rama condemned the property damage and blamed the opposition for organising the protests, but told Reuters in writing that he would not resign, arguing that governments change through elections rather than street pressure, according to Exit.al. Protesters continued to call for his resignation regardless.

President Bajram Begaj again appealed for calm and dialogue. The OSCE Presence in Albania welcomed his message, saying: "We join the call for calm and inclusive dialogue," and offered to help facilitate talks if asked.

Scrutiny over treatment of detainees

Footage that circulated on social media on Thursday appeared to show dozens of young people, some reportedly minors, lying on the floor of a crowded police station room, Exit.al reported; the outlet said it could not independently verify where or when the footage was filmed. Opposition Democratic Party leader Gazment Bardhi called the images "inhuman treatment" and urged child-protection bodies to intervene. State Police said separately that four officers and a station's public order chief were suspended after a video showed officers roughly carrying an injured 19-year-old.

The unrest follows two earlier days of clashes in Tirana; see our report on the second day of protests for background on the wider "Flamingo" movement.