In Albania, student protests escalated into riots: opposition demands the resignation of Prime Minister Rama

On October 15, thousands of students paralyzed the center of Tirana: they blocked roads, burned tires, threw stones at banks and smashed ATMs. Police used tear gas, water cannons and stun grenades. Protests against high education costs have continued since October 13; the opposition demands the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama, but he refuses to step down.

tafs uz editorial deskFirst published on tafs uz 16 October 2026 at 22:292 min readAI translation

The key facts

Since October 13, clashes between students and police over high education costs have continued in Tirana for three days in a row
Protesters burned garbage bins and kiosks, smashed windows of government buildings, attacked banks and ATMs
Police used tear gas, water cannons, stun grenades and batons; parliament canceled its session on October 15

Tirana paralyzed by student protests

On October 15, thousands of students paralyzed life in Tirana, the capital of Albania: they burned tires in the streets and blocked roads with metal barricades. Police responded with tear gas and water cannons, but these measures did not reduce the pressure on Prime Minister Edi Rama, who rejected demands to resign. This was reported by Kun.uz citing the New York Times and Reuters.

Three days of clashes in a row

The protests, which have been going on for several months, took a sharp turn this week. Since October 13, clashes have occurred in Tirana for three days in a row. High school students, university students and other citizens took to the streets — the trigger was the high costs of education.

March to the ministry and riots

Demonstrators marched to the ministry of education and the prime minister's office. During the clashes, some of them set fire to garbage bins, bus stops and kiosks, and also smashed the windows of buildings linked to the government with concrete blocks carried from sidewalks.

Attacks on banks and high-rises

Protesters also threw stones at banks, smashed ATMs and broke into one of the banks. Some attacked the city's new high-rise buildings. According to them, behind the facade of buildings designed by foreign architects, the government hides its neglect of schools and universities.

Harsh police actions and cancellation of the parliament session

Police also used stun grenades against stone-throwing demonstrators. On October 15, on the central Skanderbeg Square, police beat fleeing protesters with batons — tourists witnessed this. Due to the new outbreak of violence, the nearby parliament canceled its session that day.