Reported by Lindita Cela SHTEG After months of public unrest and more than a week of escalating anti-government protests, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has called demonstrators to the negotiating table, setting up chairs labeled "DIALOGUE" at the bottom of the stairs leading into the government building. "Now, whoever wants unconditional dialogue, wherever they want, whenever they want, even here if they want, I am available along with the Government," Rama said in a video posted to Facebook on Tuesday. "The only ones who are not welcome are those who commit violence and those who do not distance themselves from violence."The overture comes as student-led demonstrations enter their eighth day, with crowds demanding Rama's resignation over allegations of widespread corruption.
During a meeting with education officials, Rama characterized the recent unrest as a "hybrid war," claiming that foreign and political actors are exploiting genuine economic concerns to incite violence and attempt to overthrow the government.Meanwhile, the streets of Tirana have seen severe clashes, with demonstrators throwing stones and firecrackers at police, who responded with tear gas and water cannons.According to the statement from the Tirana Police Directorate, the latest wave of violence resulted in 33 new arrests—including six minors aged 15 and 17—and criminal proceedings against 41 others. Authorities said masked suspects attacked officers and police vehicles with hard objects and set fire to road signs, injuring seven officers.Police emphasized that over the past seven days, 271 individuals have been arrested. Authorities highlighted that 51 of those detained have prior criminal records involving serious offenses such as murder, drug production, extortion, prostitution, and illegal weapons possession, reinforcing the prime minister's claims of outside agitation.The heavy-handed police response has sparked severe human rights concerns.
In a preliminary report released Tuesday, the People’s Advocate (Ombudsman) detailed numerous violations during the detention of protesters.Commissioner Ahmet Prençi reported that at Police Station No. 1, five out of eight detained minors alleged physical and verbal abuse by police, with two showing visible signs of physical injury. The Ombudsman’s monitors also documented that authorities conducted baseless cell phone searches without judicial orders, escorted bystanders without cause, and failed to wear identification numbers.Furthermore, the report highlighted severe overcrowding at the Security Block, which was holding 109 arrested individuals without adequate beds, water, heating, or medical care. The Ombudsman has demanded an immediate reduction in overcrowding, an absolute halt to illegal phone searches, and mandatory visible identification for all officers on duty as its administrative investigation continues.