Clashes broke out between protesters and police in central Tirana on Tuesday evening, marking the eighth consecutive day of anti-government demonstrations in Albania. Prime Minister Edi Rama, meanwhile, announced that his government is considering lowering the age of criminal responsibility and introducing additional measures against those involved in violent incidents.
After several hours of largely peaceful demonstrations, protesters threw Molotov cocktails and stones at police officers near the Prime Minister’s Office. Police responded with water cannons and tear gas, dispersing crowds in several directions, including toward Skanderbeg Square.
Earlier, police had called on demonstrators to leave the security perimeter around the government building. Protesters also blocked streets with rubbish bins, setting some on fire and disrupting traffic.
Students, university lecturers and other citizens have joined the demonstrations, demanding Rama’s resignation and the departure of his government. The protests began on October 13, initially driven by students’ concerns over education costs, university conditions and limited economic opportunities. They have since expanded to include broader grievances over the cost of living, corruption and the government’s performance.
Rama has invited students who have not engaged in violence to participate in dialogue but has ruled out resigning. On Tuesday, he placed several chairs bearing the word “DIALOGUE” outside the Prime Minister’s Office as a gesture toward negotiations. Protesters later knocked the chairs over.
Rama Announces Tougher Measures Against Protesters
Speaking at the Ministry of Education alongside Minister Mirela Kumbaro Furxhi and representatives of Tirana’s secondary schools, Rama defended the police response, which has faced criticism over allegations of excessive force. He described the demonstrations as an attempt to destabilize the country.
The prime minister announced plans for a package of criminal and administrative measures against those responsible for damage during the protests. The proposals would also require compensation for material damage, with parents potentially held financially responsible for damage caused by their underage children.
“We are studying it and will see whether we need to lower the age for criminal punishment, as I said some other countries are doing,” Rama said.
He also said the government was considering restricting social media access for children under the age of 16.
Under Albania’s current Penal Code, criminal responsibility for crimes begins at age 14, while responsibility for criminal misdemeanours begins at age 16.
Rama further alleged that political and foreign actors were behind the violence, although he presented no publicly available evidence to substantiate those claims. False and unverified information about the government has also circulated on social media during the demonstrations, with some claims subsequently challenged by fact-checking organizations.
Arrests and Criminal Proceedings Mount
The demonstrations have been accompanied by repeated confrontations and property damage. On Monday, the seventh day of protests, police intervened earlier in the day to disperse crowds and prevent further gatherings. Stones were thrown at the Court of Appeals in Tirana, while clashes were also reported near the Ministry of Interior later that evening.
Authorities said five people were arrested following the incident at the Court of Appeals, while 15 others were declared wanted. A 16-year-old was among those arrested.
According to figures released by the Albanian State Police on October 20, a total of 33 people had been arrested in connection with Monday’s protest, including six minors aged 15 and 17. Criminal proceedings had also been initiated against 44 people.
Those suspected of involvement allegedly threw stones and other hard objects at police officers, set rubbish bins on fire and damaged road signs. Police said seven officers were injured during attacks by masked and violent individuals at Monday’s gathering.
Across the first seven days of demonstrations, Albanian police reported 271 arrests. Authorities said 51 of those detained had previous criminal records, including records involving murder. By Sunday, criminal charges had reportedly been brought against 388 people in connection with the protests.
At the same time, seven police officers had been suspended pending investigations into allegations of excessive use of force.
EU and US Call for Restraint
The European Union and the US Embassy in Tirana have called for restraint, respect for the right to peaceful protest and proportionate use of force by law enforcement authorities.
Despite mounting pressure and continued calls for his resignation, Rama has given no indication that he intends to step down. He has maintained that political change cannot be imposed through violence, while the protests continue to pose a challenge to his government.
