Albania Protests: Rama Holds Firm, 47 Arrested in Tirana

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said on Friday, the fourth day of student protests, that the government will not give in to violence, as unrest spreads from Tirana to Korce, Vlore and Lezhe. This is not a purely local story for the region: according to Reuters, Albania and Montenegro are the front runners among Balkan countries in the race to join the European Union, and Albania wants membership as early as 2028. The unrest next door to Serbia therefore hits one of the countries furthest along on that path.

Where are the protests happening?

The protests began on October 13 in Tirana. On Friday, students and high schoolers organized a march to the Ministry of Education and again demanded Rama’s resignation. Young people from other cities joined them, and some students continued their class boycott. Demonstrations were also held in Shkodra, Elbasan and Burrel, with clashes with police in places. We previously reported on the earlier events in the capital, when four ministries were attacked and 35 people were detained.

Most of the available information came from three cities:

• Korce: Police arrested two people and filed criminal complaints against 23 more, including 15 minors. The incidents took place on Thursday. Damage was reported to the municipality building, the education directorate, the “Fan S. Noli” university and the “Raqi Qirinxhi” high school, as well as to traffic signs and signals.
• Vlore: Students tried to knock down a wall at the site planned for a Jewish Museum, which led to a physical clash with police in which both sides pushed and struck each other. Police tried to establish contact with the organizers and warned that some participants could be detained. Reports from Vlore mention no arrests. At the university there, the class boycott continues.
• Lezhe: A group of high schoolers threw rocks at the “Hydajet Lezha” high school and broke windows on the building. Demonstrators threw firecrackers, removed traffic signs and protective barriers, and used dumpsters to block traffic. Police formed a cordon near the town square and the municipality building.

In its statement on Korce, the Albanian police said:

“During the protests, dozens of participants, some of them masked, committed violent acts by throwing rocks, stone slabs and hard metal objects at state institutions and public property.”

What about the people arrested in Tirana?

19 people arrested after the October 13 protests appeared before a court in Tirana. One report says six were placed under house arrest and ten were ordered to report regularly to the police. They face charges of disturbing public order, destroying property, attacking police officers and violating rules on explosive and flammable materials.

According to previously published police data, 47 people were arrested in Tirana, and proceedings were opened against another 92 without detention. According to an RTCG report from October 15, 51 police officers were injured in the unrest by then. Reuters described how, on the second day of the protests, the government building and two banks were set on fire, and police responded to thousands of demonstrators with water cannons and tear gas.

What is Rama saying?

On the question of giving in, the prime minister left no room for doubt:

“Whoever says we should give in to violence for a bit of peace is wrong. Because giving in to violence for a bit of peace means losing peace and the right path for a long time.”

He urged citizens to be patient: “Brothers and sisters, patience! This too shall pass.” He also tied the protests to the country’s European path:

“Does it seem like a coincidence to you that, as soon as Albania gets another green light, as soon as it closes another chapter and comes closer to its historic goal, a fire breaks out here? That is no coincidence at all.”

Rama acknowledged that students, business owners and citizens have the right to demand better living and working conditions, but stressed that violence is not a way to solve problems.

Earlier, in a written answer to Reuters, he rejected calls to resign: “As for the calls for me to resign: governments change in democratic elections. We had elections last year, not a revolution.” Reuters assesses the protests as the biggest challenge so far for Rama, who won a fourth term as prime minister last year. The prime minister also said he is ready to discuss the rising cost of education, but that “attacks on institutions, destruction of public property and endangering public safety have nothing to do with the legitimate demands of students.”

Why are students on the streets?

Sources do not fully agree on the causes. According to N1 and Reuters, students are protesting over rising education costs and corruption, and the unrest broke out after months of mostly peaceful demonstrations against a plan for a luxury tourist resort on Albania’s southern coast, backed by Jared Kushner, son-in-law of US President Donald Trump. That project has faced legal challenges. RTCG, citing Euronews Albania, lists a broader set of grievances: the work of the government, economic conditions and the state of education.

Reactions from abroad and at home

The United Nations office in Albania responded to the escalation. Its statement reads:

“The United Nations in Albania expresses concern over the recent acts of violence and the escalation of tensions during the protests in Tirana.”

The UN called on police to show restraint and use proportionate force, while respecting the rights of everyone detained, and the statement adds: “We call on all parties involved to refrain from violence, help ease tensions and engage in constructive dialogue, in a spirit of mutual respect, peace and the rule of law.” The Interreligious Council of Albania also called for dialogue, saying that young people’s demands must be heard, but that violence and destruction of property cannot be justified by dissatisfaction.