Balla thanks police and firefighters, calls on SPAK over organizers: responsibility lies with Berisha

Taulant Balla, head of the Socialist Party's parliamentary group, on Saturday evening thanked State Police officers, firefighters and health staff for their work during the protest in Tirana, which was marked by violence and clashes with law enforcement.

In a social media statement, Balla said police did everything to guarantee the right to peaceful protest and to protect citizens, public institutions and private property. He also thanked the doctors and nurses of the National Emergency Service and staff at the Trauma Center, who treated police officers injured on duty, media workers and injured protesters.

“A planned scenario”

The Socialist accused the organizers, whom he tied to PD leader Sali Berisha, of deliberately recruiting people to cause violence and unrest. As signs of a predetermined scenario he cited low turnout at midday and the later attacks on police and institutions with “Molotov cocktails, explosive pyrotechnic devices and stones.”

Balla alleged that PD's central headquarters was used as a gasoline depot for making Molotov cocktails and for storing heavy pyrotechnic devices, which he said are banned and were smuggled into Albania. These are his allegations, to which PD had not responded.

According to Balla, responsibility for the rally lies with the organizers, Sali Berisha, PD lawmakers and its local leaders, who he said must face the law. He referred the matter to SPAK, the Special Anti-Corruption Structure. His statement came shortly before Berisha's news conference, at which the Democratic leader announced new national protests.