Government
Elona Hoxha explains anti-violence package: Up to 2 years for weapons at rallies, fines for masking
Deputy Minister Elona Hoxha explained the six legal instruments proposed by Rama, while Minister Toni Gogu noted that criminal responsibility begins at age 14.
By ANN Newsroom · Newsroom
October 26, 2026, 21:33 · Updated 18:41 · 2 min read
In brief
- The package provides for punishing those who stay at a rally after a police warning when violence is occurring.
- Carrying weapons and dangerous objects at rallies carries up to two years in prison; masking when there is a risk of violence, a fine or up to six months.
- The ministry made a list of lawyers available for minors and students, along with the free hotline 0800 10 10.
The Justice Ministry came out on Monday to explain the legal package against violence at protests, presented a day earlier by Prime Minister Edi Rama. In an interview with Vizion Plus, Deputy Minister Elona Hoxha said it consists of six legal instruments and is built on the principle that peaceful protest is protected, violence is punished and whoever causes damage pays for it.
What changes in the Criminal Code
According to Hoxha, a person who keeps staying at a rally after a police warning, knowing that violence is being used or property damaged, will face criminal punishment. Anyone caught with weapons or dangerous objects at rallies risks up to two years in prison. Covering one’s face, when there is violence or a concrete risk of violence, is punishable by a fine or up to six months in prison, with exceptions for health, religious or professional reasons and for those who uncover their faces on police orders.
The package also includes measures against incitement to violence on social media, online threats and stalking, and the abusive use of artificial intelligence to harm individuals.
Minors and legal aid
The deputy minister said protecting minors taken to police stations is “non-negotiable” and that children must not be used as instruments of political conflict. The ministry has provided police stations and courts with a list of lawyers for minors and students, while citizens who cannot afford it can get free advice at 0800 10 10.
Earlier in the morning, Justice Minister Toni Gogu warned on social media that criminal responsibility does not begin at 18. “Under Albanian law, minors bear criminal responsibility from the age of 14 for committing crimes and from the age of 16 for committing criminal misdemeanors,” he wrote, adding that involvement in violence has consequences for minors too.
