The leader of the Democratic Party, Sali Berisha, in an online discussion with citizens addressed yesterday’s protest, which saw tensions and clashes between police and demonstrators.
In his remarks, Berisha stated that protesters and Democratic Party deputies were subjected to violence by police forces, emphasizing that a spray—allegedly the type used against bears—was deployed against them.
“First of all, I want to salute the tens of thousands of citizens, opposition supporters, who yesterday, with the powerful surge of our peaceful uprising, struck fear into the narco-regime of Edi Rama. I also warmly salute our heroes in police detention cells, who, in the face of inhumane torture and brutal beatings by drugged police officers, remained unbroken and refused to give any statements as demanded by those who arrested them. I strongly condemn the violence against protesters and the open and premeditated violence against the main leaders and deputies of the Democratic Party, who were all part of a completely peaceful protest and contributed to maintaining its peaceful character,” he said.
“For this purpose, they deliberately used a weapon with known lethal potential such as bear spray, which is dozens of times stronger than spray used against humans. The use of such spray constitutes a crime, a serious criminal offense, and is prohibited under all conventions. This is the first police force in the world to use bear spray against citizens and protesters. Key Democratic Party figures and deputies, including Flamur Noka, Luçiano Boçi, Klevis Balliu, Ivi Kaso, Blendi Himçi, and Aulon Kalaja, among many others, were selectively targeted with the spray. I strongly condemn the brutality shown toward demonstrators and the torture inflicted on them in police stations. Even today, there are protesters in custody with visible signs of abuse. Aulon Kalaja, after being blinded by bear spray, was struck in the back of the head in an act of blind revenge, leaving him unconscious. The same has happened to several peaceful protesters,” Berisha stated.
