Albanian police fired rubber bullets at protesters in Tirana on Saturday as demonstrations against Prime Minister Edi Rama escalated for a fifth consecutive day. High-school and university students joined a broader movement calling for Rama to resign.
Clashes took place near the prime minister’s office and elsewhere in central Tirana. Protesters threw stones, petrol bombs and fireworks, and some set cars and rubbish bins on fire. Police used tear gas, water cannon and baton charges to disperse crowds. The Associated Press and AFP reported that Saturday was the first time officers had used rubber bullets during the current demonstrations.
National Police Chief Skender Hita said the projectiles were used in a limited manner. The Health and Social Welfare Ministry said nine protesters and four police officers received medical treatment on Saturday. Hita said 167 people had been arrested over five days of unrest and 132 officers injured. Seven police officers were suspended pending investigations into allegations that they exceeded their authority.
Students have cited university fees, poor educational facilities and limited job opportunities. Their demands have broadened to include allegations of corruption and a call for Rama’s resignation. The government denies wrongdoing. Rama, who is serving a fourth term, rejected calls to step down and said he would listen to students while warning against further destruction.
The protests have also spread beyond Tirana, with local media reporting roadblocks and property damage in other cities. The movement follows months of demonstrations that began over a planned luxury development on Albania’s southern coast and has since expanded into wider opposition to the government.
