Anti-Government Protests Erupt in Tirana as Demonstrators Clash with Police

Anti-government demonstrators gathered outside the Albanian parliament in Tirana on Thursday, July 2, hurling eggs, flour, and stones at the building as tensions with law enforcement escalated into violence.

Escalation at the Parliament

Protesters gathered outside the parliament building on Thursday to block access for politicians, chanting demands for Prime Minister Edi Rama to be imprisoned. Tensions spiked following an alleged provocative gesture by Member of Parliament Besnik Brahimi.

The situation deteriorated as demonstrators began throwing stones, eggs, and flour at the building and police officers. In response, authorities deployed pepper spray, tear gas, and water cannons to disperse the crowd and regain control of the area.

Casualties and Continued Unrest

Local authorities reported that 23 people were detained in the capital, while nine police officers sustained injuries requiring medical attention. Another demonstration has already been scheduled for Saturday.

Wider Anti-Government Sentiment

Daily protests have occurred in Tirana for over a month, initially sparked by a controversial development project involving a company linked to Jared Kushner. The plan proposes luxury hotels on the Sazan island and in the protected Vjosa-Narta coastal area, home to diverse wildlife.

The movement has since evolved into a broader protest against alleged government corruption. While participants demand the resignation of Prime Minister Rama and his cabinet, the Prime Minister has rejected the allegations, describing the shift from peaceful demonstration to violence as the return of an “old film of conflict.”