The clash between Tirana and Moscow deepened after Russia rejected the accusations of Prime Minister Edi Rama, who had claimed that “foreign hands” such as Russia and Iran were behind the violent protests in the country. From Moscow, the response was direct: the protesters are citizens of Albania and responsibility cannot be shifted outside the country.
Moscow’s reaction after Rama’s statements
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova reacted to the Albanian prime minister’s statements about the possible role of Russia and Iran in the recent unrest.
Her statement was also shared on social media by the Russian diplomatic mission in Tirana, giving the response clear political and public weight.
What Zakharova officially said
In the official version published by the Russian side, Zakharova addressed Rama in a firm tone, openly disputing the claim that the protests were stirred by external actors.
According to her statement, those who took to the streets were Albanian citizens, not foreign forces, while responsibility for the situation lies with the government in Tirana.
Strong accusations, no new public evidence
Prime Minister Edi Rama had previously said that Russia and Iran were behind the violent protests, linking the situation to opposition to Albania’s path toward the European Union.
Up to this reaction from Moscow, no new elements have been presented in the public dimension of the clash to clarify what concrete evidence the Albanian government’s accusations are based on.
A political message that strikes at the government’s narrative
The most direct part of the Russian reaction was the wording that “it is the citizens of your country who have taken to the streets in protest” and that the problems should be resolved within Albania.
This position from Moscow is not simply a diplomatic rebuttal, but also an open challenge to the government’s narrative about the causes of the protests.
For now, the clash remains at the level of public statements, with strong accusations from Tirana and a categorical denial from Moscow.
At the center of the debate remains the question of whether the government is presenting evidence for its claims, or shifting the political and social crisis onto external factors.