Brussels condemns Tirana violence, 272 injured in five days

The European Commission has condemned the violence at protests in Tirana and other Albanian cities. It told a country that, like Serbia, is a candidate for European Union membership that discontent should be resolved through dialogue, and that those responsible for arson and attacks on state institutions must answer for them. The statement comes after five days of protests that, according to Radio Television of Serbia (RTS), left 272 people injured.

What did the European Commission tell Albania?

In its statement, the Commission says it condemns the violence in Tirana and other cities, including arson, attacks on state institutions and the destruction of public and private property. The message runs in two directions: one toward the demonstrators, the other toward the state that is suppressing the protest.

“There is no place for violence in a democratic society, and the response to it must be in line with the law and proportionate.”

The Commission adds that freedom of assembly and freedom of expression are fundamental rights and key European values, and that they must be exercised peacefully. It welcomed the Albanian authorities’ commitment to protect citizens’ right to protest and asked that everyone responsible for violence be held to account through due legal process.

In the same statement, the Commission addressed Albania’s status and tied the public’s discontent to the country’s European path:

“In a candidate country that is firmly committed to the process of accession to the European Union and is making significant progress on its European path, discontent should be addressed through constructive dialogue and by peaceful means.”

What happened on the streets of Tirana?

The protests, led by students and dissatisfied citizens who demand the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama, continued for a sixth day in a row. The gathering in Tirana began peacefully in front of the Ministry of Education and then escalated. According to RTS, demonstrators threw stones at the police, the ministry building and the headquarters of the Socialist Party, where they smashed windows and set containers on fire. Police responded with tear gas and a water cannon.

RTS gives this tally for the first five days: 272 people injured, among them 169 police officers, 82 demonstrators and 21 bystanders.

Prime Minister Rama again refused to resign. According to RTS, he said the young people demonstrating are prey to the ideology of the madness of the so-called “Antifa”, and that the protests threaten not the government but Albania’s path to the European Union.

The original grievances differ from today’s demands. The protests began over long-standing problems in the education system, and students point to poor study conditions, too little money for education, high rents and a shortage of dormitory places. The demands have since widened to include the prime minister’s resignation, and the students say they will not give up and that the protests will go on.

How much does this weigh on Albania’s European path?

Political scientist Uros Citakovic says Albania’s European path is the biggest test of the current protests. In his words, a failure to build institutions and make them more transparent would greatly complicate the country’s accession process.

Citakovic also says it is hard to establish who is behind the protests. The media mention links between the opposition and the organization of the demonstrations, as well as the possible influence of a foreign factor. In his assessment, both arguments have serious weaknesses, but also a certain logic.

In its statement, the Commission condemns the arson and at the same time asks that the state’s response be lawful and proportionate. We previously covered the protests when 167 people had been arrested and Rama refused to step down; the sixth day brings the same refusal, this time with an official assessment from Brussels.