Violent Clashes Erupt in Albania Amid Anti-Government Protests
Student demonstrations escalate, with protesters targeting government buildings and clashing with riot police.
TIRANA, Albania -- Riots broke out in Albania's capital, Tirana, on Wednesday as hundreds of youths attacked government buildings, banks, and businesses in a violent escalation of an anti-government movement. The demonstrations, continuing for a second day, were initially organized by student groups demanding education reforms but have merged with a broader campaign against Prime Minister Edi Rama's government.
The protesters, part of a movement known as the "flamingo movement" due to their use of pink bird imagery, are also opposing a coastal development project linked to Jared Kushner, former U.S. President Donald Trump's son-in-law. The movement has accused the government of widespread corruption.
During the clashes, which lasted more than eight hours, youths smashed storefronts, set fires, and damaged at least four government ministry buildings. Riot police responded with tear gas and water cannon. Authorities reported that 23 police officers and six civilians were injured, and 35 people were detained.
President Bajram Begaj condemned the violence, urging adherence to the constitution and law. The EU delegation in Albania expressed concern over the escalation and called for a proportionate response from authorities, emphasizing that freedom of assembly and expression are fundamental rights and core European values.
The protests have fueled political tensions in Albania, a country aspiring to join the European Union and one that has experienced periods of instability since the collapse of its communist regime in the early 1990s.