Tirana: Albanian police deployed tear gas to disperse opposition protesters who threw petrol bombs at government buildings and vandalized city property during a civil disobedience protest against Prime Minister Edi Rama’s government.
The protesters accused Rama’s government of corruption, nepotism, and efforts to silence the opposition. Among their grievances was the house arrest of opposition party leader Sali Berisha on corruption charges dating back to his tenure as prime minister, charges Berisha denies.
Protesters also demanded the release of opposition Member of Parliament Ervin Salianji, who was jailed last week for allegedly filing a “false report” against a former interior minister. Salianji has denied the charges, calling the trial politically motivated.
More than 1,000 police officers were deployed in the capital, Tirana, as thousands of opposition supporters moved through the city, throwing petrol bombs, rocks, and other objects. Video footage showed protesters clashing with police outside Prime Minister Edi Rama’s office before marching to the headquarters of the ruling Socialist Party. At the party headquarters, protesters burned a poster of Rama with petrol bombs, prompting police to fire tear gas to disperse the crowd.
Also Read | Iran’s Quds Force Chief Esmail Qaani Confirmed Alive Amid Death Rumors
Further clashes erupted outside the Interior Ministry and the office of Tirana’s mayor, both associated with Rama’s party. Protesters smashed billboards, vandalized city property, and set garbage containers on fire as they marched through the city. Police used additional tear gas when demonstrators approached the parliament.
“He (Rama) should give up, he should resign, he should go away, he should go to jail for the rest of his life,” said protester Gjoke Dreshaj.
Also Read | Kyiv Strikes Oil Terminal in Crimea as Russia Claims New Gains in East Ukraine
Another protester, Erges Eskiu, rallied the crowd through a loudspeaker, saying, “Unite with us, this is civil disobedience. All left and right, pensioners and students, parents, you are all stolen.”
Rama, who has been in power since 2013, has won three consecutive elections. Police reported that 10 officers were injured during the protests, suffering from petrol bombs and other thrown objects.
