Police
Exit.al: 28-year-old Erjon Vishkulli loses his left eye after being hit by a rubber bullet during protest
The young man, one of the leaders of the “Tifozat Kuq e Zi” fan group, was taken in a Report TV vehicle to the Trauma Hospital, where he underwent surgery.
By ANN Newsroom · Newsroom
October 24, 2026, 22:40 · Updated 18:40 · 2 min read
In brief
- Erjon Vishkulli was injured in the eye during clashes in the Skanderbeg Square area.
- Hospital sources confirmed to Exit.al that he lost his left eye after surgery at the Trauma Hospital.
- PD demanded the immediate identification of the officer who fired, while police had not commented on the case.
A 28-year-old protester, Erjon Vishkulli, lost his left eye after being hit in the face by a rubber bullet during Saturday's protest in Tirana, according to hospital sources cited by Exit.al. Vishkulli, one of the leaders of the national team fan group “Tifozat Kuq e Zi,” was injured in the Skanderbeg Square area, where clashes between protesters and police went on for hours.
Footage of the bloodied young man emerged around 18:30. According to Shqiptarja.com, a Report TV vehicle came to his aid and immediately took him to the Trauma Hospital, where he arrived bleeding from the eye and in severe pain. There he underwent surgery on his left eye, and according to Report TV sources he would need another operation. The first footage of him after the injury was published by News24 journalist Osman Stafa.
Reactions
The “Tifozat Kuq e Zi” group confirmed the injury on its official page, writing that he and other young people are standing up for a better Albania. “We pray for you, brother,” the post ended. PD leader Sali Berisha called the shooting a “serious state crime,” while Democratic parliamentary group leader Gazment Bardhi asked the Tirana Prosecutor's Office to identify “today, not tomorrow” who gave the order and who fired the shot.
By the evening, the State Police had not made a specific statement on the case. The Health Ministry said a protester with an eye injury was being treated at the Trauma Hospital and was out of danger.
Rubber bullets
Police have used rubber bullets in earlier protests as well. They were first fired into crowds on Oct. 17, injuring protesters and journalists. On Saturday, according to Reuters, police used tear gas, water cannons and rubber bullets after protesters threw stones at officers and set fire to the door of a ministry.
