By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Albanian police used rubber bullets against protesters in the capital Saturday, Oct. 17, marking a significant escalation in five consecutive days of unrest that has left hundreds facing criminal proceedings and raised questions about the government’s response to a growing student-led protest movement.
Thousands gathered near the Education Ministry in Tirana before confrontations spread through the city center. Masked demonstrators threw rocks, Molotov cocktails, metal objects and fireworks at riot police, while officers responded with tear gas, water cannons, pepper spray and rubber bullets.
The demonstrations, which began Tuesday over university conditions and rising tuition fees, have expanded into a broader campaign demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama. Protesters have also expressed frustration over unemployment, government corruption and limited economic opportunities for young Albanians.
According to Reuters’ reporting from Tirana, the violence intensified around government buildings as demonstrators set fire to vehicles and garbage containers, using burning debris to block advancing police units.
Saturday’s confrontation marked the first reported use of rubber bullets by police during the demonstrations, drawing criticism from students and renewed scrutiny of law enforcement tactics.
Albanian law permits rubber bullets during public demonstrations only under exceptional circumstances.
State Police Director Skender Hita acknowledged that officers had deployed the projectiles but defended their use as limited and consistent with authorized procedures.
“Rubber bullets were used in a limited manner,” Hita said during a news conference.
“All the means used have been used in a limited manner and only certified equipment is used, which is allowed for such cases in European Union countries,” he added.
Police reported that 167 people had been arrested since the unrest began, while criminal proceedings had been initiated against another 388 individuals.
Hita said 132 officers had sustained injuries during the five days of demonstrations, primarily in Tirana. Seven police officers were suspended and placed under disciplinary investigation following allegations that they exceeded their authority.
The Albanian Health Ministry reported that nine protesters and four police officers received medical treatment Saturday.
Among those assisting injured demonstrators was Paula, a volunteer who helped establish a temporary first-aid station inside a lawyer’s office.
She told Agence France-Presse that three people had been treated for injuries to their heads, eyes and legs that they believed were caused by rubber bullets.
The reported injuries heightened concerns among demonstrators because many participants are teenagers, including high school students.
Sport student Redi Taku criticized the police response and questioned whether rubber bullets were appropriate during demonstrations involving minors.
“Today, for the first time since the protests began, the police used rubber bullets — an extreme measure, considering that there are minors aged 16 to 17 among the protesters,” Taku told AFP.
The police response has become an increasingly important issue as the demonstrations continue.
Authorities maintain that officers have faced repeated attacks involving incendiary devices and other dangerous objects, while protest organizers and civil rights advocates have raised concerns about injuries sustained by demonstrators.
According to The Associated Press, security forces have confronted groups throwing rocks, petrol bombs and fireworks near government buildings, with some protesters damaging private businesses and public infrastructure.
Hita urged those participating in violent incidents to stop attacking officers and government property.
The unrest has also taken on symbolic significance for young Albanians concerned about the country’s economic future.
At the beginning of Saturday’s demonstration, protesters set a suitcase on fire and threw it into the courtyard of the Education Ministry.
Participants said the gesture represented their refusal to leave Albania despite limited employment prospects and dissatisfaction with the country’s education system.
Emigration has remained a significant concern in Albania, where many young people have sought education and employment opportunities elsewhere in Europe.
Journalism student Sinan Billa described the demonstrations as an expression of frustration with the government’s response to those concerns.
The protest was “a reaction to express discontent at the silence of our government,” Billa told AFP.
“Young people have awoken for our parents, too,” he said.
“We are not asking for privileges. We are demanding our rights, our future and a better country.”
The students’ grievances have increasingly attracted support from other groups dissatisfied with Rama’s government, turning what began as an education-focused movement into a broader political challenge.
The unrest has spread beyond Tirana, with demonstrations reported in other Albanian cities.
In the coastal city of Durrës, protesters damaged windows at a post office and blocked roads with burning barricades, according to local media.
The disturbances followed months of anti-government activity over allegations of corruption, economic inequality and controversial development projects.
Earlier demonstrations were fueled in part by opposition to a proposed luxury tourism development on Albania’s southern coast associated with Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law.
Critics of the project raised concerns about land ownership, environmental protection and the government’s handling of development approvals.
The controversy subsequently became part of a wider protest movement addressing public accountability and the influence of politically connected investors.
The Guardian reported earlier in the week that student demonstrations had intensified as frustration over university conditions and government policies merged with broader accusations of corruption.
Rama, who has served as prime minister since 2013 and leads the ruling Socialist Party, has rejected demands that he resign.
However, he has sought to distinguish between peaceful demonstrators and individuals responsible for violence.
During a visit Saturday to businesses damaged in the unrest, Rama said the government would protect the right to protest while pursuing those responsible for attacks on property and public institutions.
He said “their right to protest must and will be protected.”
“Their voices, the voices of young people and of every citizen who has taken part in protests today, must and will be heard with respect,” Rama added.
At the same time, the prime minister warned that continued violence would not be tolerated.
He said he “will not allow anyone to jeopardise the future of this country.”
In a separate video statement, Rama emphasized that his government would continue functioning despite the demonstrations.
“My responsibility is clear in these difficult hours: to protect our citizens, guarantee justice and move Albania forward,” he said, according to Euronews’ coverage of the escalating protests.
The continuing unrest presents a challenge for Albania as the country pursues membership in the European Union.
Rama has identified European integration as a central objective of his government, with a stated ambition to secure membership by 2030.
EU officials have expressed concern about the violence and called for respect for the right to peaceful assembly, while also emphasizing the importance of accountability for unlawful conduct.
The allegations of excessive police force have added another dimension to the crisis, particularly following the suspension of seven officers.
Those disciplinary proceedings remain ongoing, and authorities have not announced final findings concerning the officers’ conduct.
Meanwhile, demonstrations involving students and young activists continue to attract participation from Albanians frustrated by education costs, employment prospects and government accountability.
The unrest has also coincided with protest movements elsewhere in Europe, including demonstrations over living costs and public services in France.
Although the movements involve different domestic circumstances, the Albanian protests reflect growing dissatisfaction among young people concerned about their economic opportunities and political representation.
For Rama’s government, the immediate challenge is restoring public order while addressing grievances that have brought thousands into the streets.
For protesters, the use of rubber bullets, arrests and continued clashes have intensified the confrontation with authorities rather than resolving the underlying demands.
After five days of demonstrations, the government has not agreed to the students’ principal demand for Rama’s resignation, and protest organizers have not announced an end to their activities.
With criminal proceedings involving hundreds of participants and investigations into police conduct underway, Albania faces continued political uncertainty as authorities and demonstrators remain divided over both the government’s policies and its response to the unrest.
Original article
Comments