A video shared from the morning protest in Tirana has raised serious questions about how police intervened against citizens. The footage shows an officer punching a citizen in the stomach while the man is being held by other police officers to be put into a van.
The protest began on the first day of the new school year
Several citizens came out to protest on the morning of the first day of the new school year. A group of protesters was marching from Zogu i Zi with flags in their hands and chanting when they were stopped by police officers.
During the intervention, some of the protesters were escorted by police. It was precisely at this moment that the footage was recorded, prompting reactions on social media.
The footage focuses on the blow against the citizen
The video clearly shows the moment when a police employee punches a citizen in the stomach. According to the footage, the citizen is being held by force by other officers while being escorted toward the police van.
The footage raises serious doubts about the proportionality of the use of force during the intervention, beyond official versions that usually justify operations on the ground.
The police response came after the video was published
After the video emerged, State Police Director General Skënder Hita announced the immediate suspension from duty of inspector J. H., part of the Special Force “Shqiponja” at the Tirana Local Police Directorate.
According to the official statement, the incident occurred during the gathering held on Durrës Street in Tirana.
Disciplinary investigation launched over unlawful use of force
According to the State Police, the Directorate of Professional Standards was also ordered to launch a disciplinary investigation against the police employee.
The official version links the procedure to suspicions of unlawful and unreasonable use of force, as well as actions that damage the image of the police employee and the institution as a whole.
In its public response, the State Police said it does not tolerate actions contrary to the law and professional standards.
The officer’s suspension came only after the footage became public, bringing renewed attention to how citizens are treated during protests and to how real internal oversight is before cases come into the open.
For now, the authorities have made public only the suspension measure and the start of disciplinary proceedings against the officer involved.