Albanian Police Deploy Force as Over 300 Injured in Tirana Clashes

Albanian police fired tear gas and water cannons in Tirana on Saturday to clear crowds that had turned violent during an antigovernment rally. The security forces also used rubber bullets against the demonstrators. Authorities reported that more than 300 protesters and police officers were injured. Dozens of demonstrators were arrested during the incident.

The unrest escalated after a rally organized to bring students and residents from across the country to the capital. Several groups, including university professors, artists, and opposition parties, announced they would support the event. Local media reported that police increased security measures around the city and conducted checks on vehicles entering Tirana.

The Ministry of Education became the primary target of the crowd. Protesters threw stones at the building and rolled burning garbage bins toward its entrance. The ministry has been a central focus of the demonstrations, which began in mid-October over poor school conditions and rising living costs in the Balkan state.

Prime Minister Edi Rama, a Socialist, has faced intermittent protests since May. The unrest initially sparked by news of a luxury hotel project linked to the family of United States President Donald Trump has grown into a wider campaign against corruption. Rama has blamed foreign actors for the violence, specifically accusing Russia and Iran of driving online misinformation.

Rama called for dialogue with the protesters, symbolized by red cushions placed outside the government headquarters on Saturday. Demonstrators set the cushions on fire later in the day. While Rama is the main target, some signs in the crowd also criticized his centre-right rival, Sali Berisha, indicating that blame for the crisis is spread across the political class.