Student protests in Tirana turn violent as government building and banks burn

Student demonstrations in Albania’s capital, Tirana, turned violent on October 14, with a government building and two banks set on fire as protesters challenged education costs, corruption and a luxury development linked to Jared Kushner. Police used water cannon and tear gas to disperse crowds, according to the Guardian and Associated Press.¹²⁴

Fires and clashes

According to Reuters, the October 14 student protest in Tirana drew tens of thousands of people, some of whom threw stones at police. A Raiffeisen Bank branch was among the premises that caught fire, the agency said. The Guardian also reported fires at a government building and two banks.¹⁴

The Associated Press described more than eight hours of rioting, during which protesters attacked government buildings, banks and businesses. The Guardian reported smashed shop windows, overturned bins and damage to local businesses as officers tried to disperse demonstrators.¹²

Student demands and a wider campaign

Student organisers said their concerns included conditions at universities, the expense of higher education, financial assistance and prospects for employment, according to the Guardian. AP reported that students had joined a broader anti-government campaign, linking demands for education reform with opposition to the development associated with Kushner.¹²

According to the Guardian, the broader campaign, called Flamingo, sought Prime Minister Edi Rama’s departure because of claims that corruption was pervasive. One student, Lora, said: “We will not stop until Rama resigns”.¹

Opposition to the proposed luxury resort had prompted peaceful demonstrations during the summer, according to the Guardian. The New York Times reported on October 15 that resistance to the project coincided with growing discontent over corruption and living costs. Reuters described the proposed resort as backed by Kushner.¹³⁴

The Guardian, citing Albanian media, reported that Wednesday’s demonstrations had extended to universities in Elbasan and Shkodër. That account placed student activity beyond the capital, where the fires and clashes were reported.¹

Government condemnation and EU concern

The government condemned the violence. Deputy Prime Minister Albana Koçiu said the right to protest did not justify violence or destruction and urged students and other citizens to separate themselves from vandalism, the Guardian reported.¹

Police appealed for calm and warned that anyone using violence, burning or damaging property, or attacking officers would be held individually accountable under the law, according to the Guardian. The warning followed the confrontations between demonstrators and police.¹

The European Union expressed concern about the escalation. Its delegation in Tirana acknowledged allegations that police had used excessive violence against protesters and journalists, called for a prompt investigation and urged all sides to reduce tensions, the Guardian reported. Those allegations were not established findings.¹