Albanian police use tear gas as students protest in Tirana

Summarised from Al Jazeera's report · Updated 14 Oct, 03:14 · Archive

Albanian riot police fired tear gas at student protesters in Tirana demanding Prime Minister Edi Rama's resignation.

Albanian riot police fired tear gas and water cannons at hundreds of student demonstrators in Tirana on Tuesday. Protesters hurled bricks and concrete blocks at the Education Ministry building and threw Molotov cocktails, firecrackers and stones at officers. Police said at least six officers and one female journalist were injured, and 23 people were arrested.

Student organisers said the protest was over university conditions, higher education costs, financial support and employment prospects. Protesters expressed frustration with inequality and government economic policies. Protester Luljeta Kola said Albania needed 'a revolution, a change, a complete overthrow of the system', citing a deep social divide between rich and poor. The demonstrations echoed broader anti-government protests in the capital since May, sparked by a luxury tourism project linked to the Trump family.

Deputy Prime Minister Albana Kociu rejected the protesters' methods, writing on Facebook that 'violence has not been, is not, and will never be a solution' and that attacking institutions and destroying property were not how youth should express themselves.

Read the report

• Photos: Student protest in Albania prompts violent clashes with policeProtesters in Tirana throw bricks at the Education Ministry building as police respond with tear gas and water cannon.Al Jazeera · 14 Oct, 07:46
• Albanian police fire tear gas at protesters as Education Ministry attackedAt least 23 protesters have been arrested in demonstrations in the capital.Al Jazeera · 13 Oct, 23:33

In this story: Edi Rama · Albana Kociu · Luljeta Kola · Tirana · Albania · Education Ministry

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem