The student protest in Tirana has entered its 15th day, with the gathering beginning in front of the Ministry of Education before later moving toward the Prime Minister’s Office. An increased police presence was visible on the ground, while fire-related incidents were also recorded during the protesters’ movement.
The gathering began at the Ministry of Education
Students initially gathered in front of the Ministry of Education, continuing a series of protests that, according to the organizers, has entered its 15th day in Tirana.
Later, part of the protesters moved toward the Prime Minister’s Office building, extending the rally to one of the capital’s most sensitive institutional points.
Police on alert near institutions
Police forces had been deployed in the area, while a water truck was also seen near the buildings, a sign that the authorities were anticipating the possibility of tensions.
The increased police presence accompanied the movement of protesters from the Ministry of Education toward the Boulevard and then near the Prime Minister’s Office.
Trash bins and cardboard set on fire in front of the ministry
During the protest, trash bins and cardboard were burned in front of the Ministry of Education. This was the moment that marked the most visible escalation of the gathering at the outset.
After this episode, the protest continued with a march toward the Prime Minister’s Office, in a more tense atmosphere than on the usual days of the gatherings.
Fire also in the Boulevard area
In the Boulevard area, protesters set a tree on fire, according to footage and reports from the scene.
The incident added to concerns over safety during the gathering, while institutions remained under heavy police monitoring.
The 15th day of the protest thus produced not only a shift of the crowd toward the center of decision-making, but also episodes that worsened the level of tension on the ground.
It remains to be seen whether the institutional response will focus on the causes of the protest or only on the management of public order.