The key facts
- A week of protests in Tirana: about 300 injured, more than half of them police officers (according to authorities).
- Rama blames a 'hybrid war' and foreign actors, previously Russia and Iran; he acknowledges the protests are rooted in real problems.
- The protests began over resort development in a protected area linked to the Trump family and grew into anti-corruption demands for the prime minister's resignation.
Rama Blames a 'Hybrid War'
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, blamed the unrest in the country on a 'hybrid war.' His statement came after a week of violent anti-government demonstrations in the capital, Tirana. Rama repeated his earlier accusations against 'foreign actors' — he had previously claimed that Russia and Iran should be blamed for spreading disinformation online. 'This is a hybrid war that is gaining strength precisely because it is rooted in real problems, not in pure fiction,' the prime minister said in a statement broadcast live during a visit to the ministry of education, citing the rising cost of living, housing affordability and concerns about the future. According to him, this phenomenon 'is recognized and is becoming a major problem across Europe.'
Course of the Protests and the Injured
The demonstrations, involving thousands of people, have been going on since Tuesday of the previous week. Police regularly used water cannons, tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse crowds that attacked government buildings and smashed shop windows in various parts of the capital. Protesters, in turn, threw stones, Molotov cocktails and fireworks at police officers. According to the authorities, about 300 people were injured in the clashes, more than half of them police officers. Several government buildings, including the ministry of education, which remains the epicenter of the protests, have been seriously damaged.
Students and Teachers
In addition to university students, high school students are also taking part in the actions; police and authorities have regularly condemned the participation of minors in the violence. On Tuesday morning, according to an AFP correspondent, hundreds of university professors marched in solidarity with the demonstrators and to condemn police violence against students. With a banner reading 'Stop violence against students,' the marchers demanded Rama's resignation. The prime minister also hinted at a possible ban on social media for children under 16 and outlined plans to change the age of criminal responsibility.
Origins of the Protests
The anti-government protests in the Balkan country began over a controversial resort development project in an environmentally protected area linked to the family of US President Donald Trump. However, discontent with the project grew into a broader movement against corruption amid ongoing demands for Rama to step down.
