Demo: 347 injured in protests, about 200 of them police; 52 identified for violence, 7 officers suspended

During the past two weeks of protests in Tirana, 347 people have been injured, among them about 200 police officers, 107 protesters and about 20 bystanders, including journalists. The figures were released Friday by Interior Minister Ervin Demo in a joint statement with State Police Director General Skënder Hita, who put the number of injured officers at 201.

Suspensions and investigations

Demo called the violence “unprecedented” and said some officers have serious injuries but are out of danger. He acknowledged there had also been disproportionate actions: seven officers have been suspended so far, while the Police Oversight Agency is handling dozens of citizen complaints and has opened investigations with the Tirana Prosecutor's Office. The minister also denounced threats against officers and the publication of their personal data on social media.

Hita said 52 people suspected of acts of violence have been identified from footage, even though some were masked, and the files have been referred to prosecutors. He urged parents not to let their children get involved in violent situations and said claims of obstruction of journalists are treated seriously.

269 minors and the new measures

According to Demo, 269 of those detained are under 18, a figure he called “very worrying.” The minister said the decree adopted by the government provides that families cover damage caused by minors, fines for participants in violent protests and a national register of violent individuals. Soon, he said, police officers in Tirana will be equipped with body cameras.