Tirana Protests Escalate, Fires Hit Government Buildings

Clashes between police and anti-government protesters widened across central Tirana on Wednesday 14 October, a day after a student-led protest outside the Ministry of Education turned violent, Balkan Insight and Albanian Daily News reported.

According to Albanian Daily News, demonstrators moved through the city centre over roughly ten hours, setting fires and causing damage at the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Interior, the Pyramid of Tirana, two commercial banks on Durrës Street and the Twin Towers complex. The outlet said protesters also set trees alight near a side entrance to the Prime Minister's Office and tried to force their way into the parliament building, where a fire was set inside the Presidency premises. Police used tear gas and water cannon to disperse crowds.

Albania's Health Ministry said 29 people were receiving treatment, including 23 police officers and six civilians, and described everyone as conscious and in stable condition. Police said a number of young people were detained.

Second day of a wider movement

The unrest follows a protest on Tuesday 13 October outside the Ministry of Education, which also turned violent; our earlier report on that first day of clashes has the details. Protesters on both days chanted against Prime Minister Edi Rama, and some called for his resignation. Balkan Insight linked the demonstrations to the "Flamingo Revolution" movement, which began in May over a resort project at Zvërnec and has since broadened into demands over corruption.

President Bajram Begaj said he was following the escalation with concern and called on all parties to "act with responsibility and restraint", adding that the constitution and the law must remain the boundary for everyone, Balkan Insight reported. The EU Delegation in Tirana said it was concerned about reports of police overreaction and expects any allegations of excessive force against protesters and journalists to be investigated as a priority.

Interior Minister Ervin Demo said at a briefing that those responsible for arson and property damage would be held accountable, while saying authorities were willing to talk rather than respond with force, Albanian Daily News reported. The Association of Journalists of Albania said a police officer seized the phone of a Euronews Albania journalist who was photographing the protest, and condemned it as obstruction of reporting.