Albania: At least 13 injured in opposition demonstrations, demand for Rama's resignation and interim government

Shortly before the end of the protest, the demonstrators tried to gather in front of the Assembly building, but the policemen prevented the gathering by throwing tear gas

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From the protest in Tirana, Photo: Reuters
From the protest in Tirana, Photo: Reuters
Disclaimer: The translations are mostly done through AI translator and might not be 100% accurate.
Ažurirano: 08.10.2024. 08:17h

At least 13 people were injured in riots in Tirana during demonstrations by the right-wing opposition demanding the resignation of Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama.

The police said that at least ten police officers were injured, while three of the protesters were injured, according to AFP.

Several thousand people gathered at the protest at the invitation of the right-wing opposition.

Demonstrators tried to break through the police cordon, and threw Molotov cocktails at the headquarters of Edi Rama's Socialist Party and the building of the Ministry of the Interior.

Demonstrators are demanding the resignation of the prime minister and the establishment of an interim government until parliamentary elections scheduled for next year.

Radio Free Europe (RSE) reported that ten police officers were injured in Tirana on Monday after supporters of the main opposition party threw Molotov cocktails, pyrotechnics and other objects at institutional buildings during protests over the jailing of the party's MPs.

Supporters of the opposition party in Albania, the Democratic Party (PD), threw explosive devices in the direction of the prime minister's office and several other buildings.

Shortly before the end of the protest, the demonstrators tried to gather in front of the Assembly building, but the policemen prevented the gathering by throwing tear gas.

The general secretary of the right-wing Democratic Party, Fljamur Noka, said at the end of the protest that it was the first step of civil disobedience.

He said that a message was sent to Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama at the protest that he must accept the opposition's request for a technical government, otherwise there will be no peace.

"We will be in action every day," said Noka.

The Democratic Party has stepped up actions against the government after the decision to arrest Ervin Salijanji on charges of "false reporting", which it claims is politically motivated in nature.

The police said they had taken all measures to identify and detain the people who participated in Monday's attacks on police officers and state institutions.

Motolov's cocktail was also thrown at the buildings of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Municipality of Tirana.

The police stopped car traffic on about 15 road segments that are connected to the center of Tirana.

The Democratic Party's Salijanji was found guilty last month of giving false testimony in a drug-trafficking case targeting the brother of a ruling Socialist Party lawmaker. The judges suspected that some opposition members had made fake recordings.

The opposition has carried out several actions since the Court's decision to arrest Salijanji, including burning chairs in front of the Assembly and four dolls, two of which were with the image of Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and former Interior Minister Fatmir Džafaj.

The president of the Democratic Party, Salji Beriša, said in his last speech from house arrest that every democrat is ready to make a sacrifice.

"Democrats are launching their revolt, their anger. From October 7 until our triumph, there is no power in the world that can defeat us," said Berisha.

Beriša has been under house arrest since last December on charges of "passive corruption" during his mandate from 2005 to 2013.

He dismissed the allegations against him as politically motivated and accused Rama of being behind them as Albania prepares for parliamentary elections next year.

The United States of America and the European Union expressed concern and regret over the scenes seen in the two previous actions of the opposition and called for dialogue.

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