The key facts
- Mass protests continue in Tirana for the third day in a row, escalating into clashes with police
- Police used tear gas and water cannons; fires broke out in the city center, and shops and banks were damaged and looted
- Student protests against the cost and quality of higher education merged with the Flamingo movement demanding Edi Rama's resignation
Clashes and Fires in the City Center
Mass protests continued in Tirana for the third day in a row, accompanied by violence. Demonstrators threw stones, firecrackers and other objects at riot police officers; the police responded with tear gas and water cannons. Fires broke out in the city center — flames engulfed trees and a roadside structure, and firefighters tried to bring the blaze under control.
Shops Ransacked and Vandalism
Footage shows protesters running through smoke-filled streets, tearing down police barricades and throwing gas grenades back at law enforcement. Shops and banks were damaged, and some were looted. Police reported numerous acts of vandalism against ATMs, surveillance cameras, vehicles and fences. Burned cars, smashed windows and ransacked offices were left across the Albanian capital; residents and workers began clearing the debris while the demonstrations continue.
From Student Actions to a Challenge to the Government
What began three days ago as student protests against the cost and quality of higher education has grown into a broader challenge to the government of Prime Minister Edi Rama. Students seeking better conditions at universities, financial support and employment prospects joined the Flamingo movement, which opposes a luxury resort project linked to Jared Kushner and demands Rama's resignation amid corruption allegations.
