Topic
Protests
34 stories
- OpinionThe Parliament that voted with cardsOn the day the country most needed a debate, Parliament chose grabbed microphones and a vote without discussion. Both sides lost.
- EuropeMacron convenes security council at the Élysée ahead of Saturday’s “Act II” protests; police presence up 20%Authorities admit intelligence services underestimated the Oct. 17 protests, when 550,000 to 800,000 people took to the streets instead of the expected 200,000.
- BusinessRama meets bankers at the Bank of Albania: 45 branches and 53 ATMs damaged, 85% of Tirana branches operatingGovernor Sejko says deposits are not affected, while the tax authorities count about 90 businesses damaged in the protests, with initial losses of 18 million lek.
- GovernmentRama puts the dialogue chairs back outside the Prime Minister's Office: no reason justifies violence, those who cause damage will payA day after protesters knocked them over and broke them, the prime minister set the chairs out again in front of the government building, calling on students and lecturers to distance themselves from violence.
- GovernmentUniversity union declares open-ended teaching boycott: lecturers to protest daily alongside studentsSPUSH unanimously decided to suspend classes at all public universities from Oct. 21, demanding an end to violence against students and an independent investigation into the use of force.
- PoliceEighth day of protest: Molotov cocktails and fireworks at police, tear gas and water cannons, detentions reaching into barsAfter a calm morning march with students and lecturers, the evening on Dëshmorët e Kombit Boulevard again turned into clashes; seven people ended up in the hospital.
- DiplomacyUN human rights chief Volker Türk condemns violence at protests in Albania, calls for independent investigationThe UN High Commissioner called on all sides to de-escalate, describing inclusive dialogue as the only way forward.
- PartiesBerisha to branch leaders: PD will compensate convicted protesters 100%, party headquarters is their homeThe Democratic leader promised free legal aid, a medical station and protection for minors, while accusing the government of using inspectors in police uniforms.
- ParliamentParliament meets Thursday in the shadow of the protests: PD gets urgent interpellation of Minister Ervin DemoThe Oct. 22 plenary session is expected to focus on the protests and the police response, while three draft laws and two international agreements are also on the agenda.
- PoliticsJudges' Association condemns attacks on the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal, criticizes Rama's language toward judgesJudges raise the alarm over the lack of protective measures by police and warn that statements by the head of the executive risk being perceived as interference in the judiciary.
- CourtsTirana court releases 28 protesters with reporting obligation, three arrests declared unlawfulAbout 300 people have been arrested during the first seven days of protests, most of whom have received the lightest measure; only the most violent cases have been kept in custody.
- BusinessTirana protests: 80 businesses report damage as tax officials deploy 10 teams to verify claimsBusinesses damaged during eight days of protests are declaring their losses through the “Dëmi im” (“My Damage”) service on e-Albania. For some of them, the reported damage reaches 12 million lek.
- OpinionEmpty chairs are not dialogueThe invitation in front of the Prime Minister's Office and its rejection show the same thing: no one is yet building the bridge the students are asking for.
- EuropeCurfews calm the night in France; Marseille keeps minors off the streets until FridayPrime Minister Lecornu says the targeted restrictions helped the night pass without major incidents, while prefects may announce new measures.
- PoliceOct. 19 protest: 33 arrested, including 6 minors; 41 others under investigationTirana police report seven officers injured, while the toll from seven days of protests reaches 271 arrests.
- PoliceTear gas and water cannon outside the Ministry of Education; stones thrown at the buildingAfter marching from the Prime Minister's Office, some young people pelted the ministry with stones and entered its courtyard; police moved in to disperse the crowd.
- ParliamentPD asks Peleshi for an urgent session of Parliament on the student protestThe Democratic parliamentary group wants the session held today or Wednesday, with a single item: the youth protest and allegations of police violence.
- GovernmentDialogue chairs outside the Prime Minister's Office knocked over as lecturers and students reject Rama's invitationRama set out chairs with letters of invitation in front of his office, but protesters tore them up and marched on the Ministry of Education; Salianji calls on the prime minister to resign.
- PoliceOmbudsman: Phone searches without a court ruling and allegations of violence against detaineesThe preliminary report after Monday's protest finds 18 minors among some 50 people held at police stations and overcrowding in the Security Block.
- BusinessProtests shut 33 bank branches in Tirana and Durrës; economist Sefa: damage up to 10 million eurosSeveral banks announced closures or shortened hours, while customers are being directed to digital channels and ATMs.
- EuropeItaly sends 500 troops to Milan after two days of clashes; Meloni: Destroying cities is not protestThe government is expected to give the soldiers police powers, while luxury brand stores in the fashion capital remain closed.
- GovernmentRama: We are working on a social media ban for children under 16Meeting with Tirana high school principals, the prime minister said the government is also studying a lower age of criminal responsibility after the violent protests.
- GovernmentTop Channel: Government drafting blacklist that would bar violent protesters from entering the EUAccording to Top Channel, a working group at the Prime Minister's Office is drafting the package Rama announced, under which people identified as violent would be entered into the TIMS system.
- DiplomacySwiss Embassy in Tirana calls on all sides to lower tensions and choose dialogueThe Swiss mission expressed concern about the violence and property damage, calling for the protection of the right to peaceful assembly and media freedom.
- PoliceSunday's protest in Tirana: 68 arrested, including 7 minors, and 20 police officers injuredPolice said 22 other people face charges without detention for throwing stones and pyrotechnics at officers and buildings.
- CourtsTirana prosecutors register three complaints over police conduct during protestsTwo of the cases involve a 19-year-old with a broken leg and a 21-year-old injured in the head and spine.
- KosovoHaxhiu on the protests in Albania: Vetëvendosje has not called for participation, the violence must stopThe speaker of Kosovo's Parliament asked institutions in Tirana to respond to the students' demands and warned that arrogance fuels tensions.
- CourtsProtesters attack Court of Appeal in Tirana, break down door and set notices on firePolice intervened with tear gas and detained several people after the entrance of the judicial institution was damaged.
- MarketsBank of Albania after damage to branches and ATMs: deposits are safe, payments are workingThe central bank says attacks on several bank branches during the protests put neither citizens' savings nor financial stability at risk.
- PartiesBerisha rejects Rama's offer of dialogue and demands the prime minister's immediate resignationThe leader of the Democratic Party said the youth revolt will not stop and called for the intervention of the International Red Cross.
- GovernmentRama renews offer of dialogue with protesters: ready at any time and without conditionsThe prime minister asked the protest organizers to distance themselves from violence and support peaceful rallies.
- GovernmentRama meets police chiefs: 740 million lek bonus for officers deployed at protestsThe government approved a special fund for 2,750 police officers, while the prime minister warned of measures against students who commit violence and blamed foreign actors for the unrest.
- FiresFire at Police Station No. 3 and at ministry doors during Sunday's protest in TiranaProtesters set fire to the police station premises and attacked the headquarters of the Socialist Party with Molotov cocktails; several officers were injured.
- EuropeMacron condemns violence after protests in France: more than 2,400 arrested nationwideThe French president addressed the nation after a weekend of cost-of-living protests marred by looting, fires and clashes with police.
