The key facts

  • On October 18 in Tirana, police used water cannons and tear gas against protesters; 28 people were injured, including 19 police officers (AFP).
  • In a video address lasting 1 hour 14 minutes, Edi Rama said he would not resign and blamed “external forces,” naming Russia and Iran.
  • The Russian Foreign Ministry rejected the accusations of interference; Rama's visit to Vienna on October 19 was cancelled.

Clashes in Tirana

On October 18, protests in the capital of Albania intensified again, DW reports. Police used water cannons and tear gas against participants. One of the centers of the protest was the building of the ministry of education; after the crowd was dispersed, demonstrators moved to other parts of the city center, and the clashes continued for several hours.

Damage and casualties

According to AFP, some participants threw stones, bottles with flammable mixtures and pyrotechnics, and set garbage bins on fire. Windows of the headquarters of the ruling party were smashed, and fires were set at the entrance to a police station and the building of the ministry of internal affairs. That day, 28 people were injured, including 19 police officers.

Rama's statement

The same day, Prime Minister Edi Rama delivered a detailed video address to the nation lasting 1 hour 14 minutes. He said he did not intend to resign and claimed that “external forces” were behind the actions, mentioning Russia and Iran. According to him, the students among the protesters acted under the influence of a small group of 200–300 masked people, whom he accused of attempting to provoke unrest.

Cancelled visit and start of protests

Against the backdrop of the situation, Rama's visit to Vienna scheduled for October 19 and talks with Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker were cancelled. The protests began in Tirana on October 13: initially, participants demanded solutions to problems in universities, including high tuition fees and corruption.

Russia's reaction

The Russian Foreign Ministry rejected the accusations of interference. The ministry's official spokesperson Maria Zakharova said that citizens of Albania had taken to the streets and called on Rama not to shift responsibility for internal problems onto others. The Russian embassy in Tirana did not comment directly on the protests but urged its citizens to exercise caution and stay away from places of mass gatherings of people.