Tirana Police have issued a heavy toll following the protest held a day earlier in the capital. According to the official account, 56 people were arrested and 97 others were placed under criminal investigation, while damage was also reported to institutions, businesses, banks, road signage and police vehicles.
Toll presented by police
In its statement, police claim that during the gathering there were acts of violence, including the throwing of stones, hard objects and pyrotechnic materials at law enforcement forces and state buildings.
According to police, public and private property was damaged during the clashes, and police vehicles were also burned. Authorities say 24 police officers received medical assistance after injuries sustained during the intervention.
56 arrested, including minors
According to official data, the 56 arrested include 16 minors aged 15 to 17. Police published the initials, ages and in some cases the identities of those detained as part of procedural actions.
The list of those arrested includes people aged 18 to 43, while the rest are minors. Authorities have not at this stage provided fully individualized details on the specific role of each person in the reported episodes of violence.
Another 97 people under criminal investigation
In addition to the arrests, police say they have initiated criminal proceedings against 97 other people suspected of involvement in violations during the protest. The case is being followed under the direction of the Prosecutor’s Office, to which the procedural materials have been referred for further action.
At this stage, the official version remains based on the police investigation and the identifications carried out after the protest. No court decisions have yet been made public regarding the detainees or other verifying elements from an independent process.
Investigations continue after the gathering
Police say investigations are still ongoing to fully document the events and identify other people who may have been involved.
The published toll provides only the authorities’ perspective on what happened on the ground. Criminal responsibility, the role of each arrested or investigated person, and the legality of the interventions will have to pass through the scrutiny of the Prosecutor’s Office and then the court.
The police statement comes after a protest that left behind serious clashes and a high number of people under investigation or in custody.
At this moment, the toll remains the one presented by the authorities, while full verification of the claims will depend on the progress of criminal proceedings.