Student protests in Albania turn violent as Tirana demonstrators clash with police
Tens of thousands of students protesting rising education costs and corruption clashed with police in Tirana, Albania's capital, setting fire to a government building and two banks in the most violent outburst yet against Prime Minister Edi Rama.
Student protests in Albania turn violent as Tirana demonstrators clash with police
The student protests in Albania turned violent on Wednesday when demonstrators in Tirana set alight a government building and two banks and hurled stones at police, who answered with water cannon and teargas.
Fires and clashes in the capital
The trouble began after protesters started a fire at the ministry of education building, overturned bins and smashed shop fronts. Police responded with water cannon and teargas to disperse the crowds.
- A branch of Raiffeisen Bank near the education ministry also caught fire.
- Protesters chanted "resignation" and "police of crime".
- Police said any person who uses violence, burns or destroys property, or attacks police officers bears individual responsibility and will face the law.
Why students are marching
Student organisers said the protest was about conditions at universities, higher education costs, a lack of financial support and employment prospects after graduation. The unrest marks the most violent outburst yet against Rama, who won a fourth term in office in May last year amid discontent over perceived graft by top officials.
This is a revolution. We are tired of peaceful protests. We will not stop until Rama resigns.
The words belong to Lora, a student who declined to give her last name.
Reaction from officials and the EU
Deputy Prime Minister Albana Koçiu condemned the violence on Facebook and urged students to distance themselves from vandalism, writing that protesting is a legitimate right but cannot be an excuse for "violence, city destruction or ugly fighting".
The EU voiced concern over what it called the "violent escalation at the protest in Tirana". The bloc, which Albania aspires to join, said through its delegation in the capital: "We take note of the allegations of excessive violence by the police against protesters and journalists". The delegation called for a prompt investigation and urged all sides to de-escalate.
Protests spread and wider context
Albanian media reported that Wednesday's protests had spread to universities at Elbasan and Shkodër. The unrest follows a summer of peaceful demonstrations triggered by a proposed luxury resort along Albania's southern coast backed by Jared Kushner, a development caught up in legal disputes.
The movement also forms part of a broader wave of European student activism. In France, high school students have staged weeks of protests and school blockades demanding more teachers and better facilities.
The EU delegation has called for an investigation into the alleged excessive police violence and urged de-escalation, while police say anyone who used violence will face the law.
