Protesters in Albania have clashed with riot police for the seventh consecutive day in a series of violent confrontations. The demonstrators, primarily high school and university students, are demanding the resignation of embattled Prime Minister Edi Rama amid rising tensions over corruption and inadequate university conditions.
Context of the Protests
Official reports indicate that 295 people have been injured, including 186 police officers, prior to the violence that erupted on Monday. Prime Minister Rama addressed police chiefs, stating, "The moment the state negotiates with this, the state has fallen," while holding a rock thrown at police during the protests.
The protests have escalated, with a police station and government buildings in Tirana being targeted. Rama has described the protesters as "young men and women who have been radicalised by dark forces in Europe and the US," claiming that Albania is under a coordinated attack.
Clashes in Rinia Park
In Rinia Park, also known as Youth Park, protesters were seen prising loose cobblestones to use as ammunition against the police. A convoy of police vehicles, led by an armoured truck, advanced down a broad boulevard, deploying water cannons and tear gas among the fleeing crowd. Riot police pursued the predominantly student protesters through the park, forcing many to seek refuge in nearby cafes.
