The United States Embassy in Tirana has issued a public response to the protests and the tense climate in the country, calling for demonstrations to take place without acts of violence. In its statement, the American mission emphasizes the line between protest as a democratic right and violence, which it says cannot be presented as civic engagement.
Reaction from the US Embassy
In the statement released publicly, the US Embassy says that violence, unrest, physical injury to individuals, and the destruction of property do not constitute civic engagement.
The message comes at a time when the protests have been accompanied by tension, as international partners are publicly signaling the line that, in their view, should not be crossed in exercising the right to assemble.
Call for peaceful protest
The American mission calls on citizens who choose to protest to exercise this right peacefully and without violent acts.
This wording recognizes protest as a right, while at the same time placing clear responsibility on how it is carried out on the ground.
Appeal to all sides
In the same response, the Embassy calls on all sides to show restraint and calm.
This appeal does not distinguish between the actors involved in the tense situation, distributing the burden of responsibility not only to protesters, but to all factors that influence either the escalation or the calming of the public climate.
The US Embassy statement focuses the debate on the minimum standard of protest in a democracy: the right to object without turning to violence.
At its core, the American message is direct: peaceful demonstration is protected, while physical injury and destruction of property remain outside any understanding of civic engagement.