The student protest outside the Ministry of Education escalated this Tuesday into direct clashes with police, while detentions, the use of rubber batons and intervention with high-pressure water were reported at the scene. The full number of those detained and injured has not yet been made public.
From protest to violence at the institution’s entrance
The gathering began in front of the Ministry of Education building, but the situation quickly became tense. Protesters threw eggs and sprayed the walls of the institution, and later also damaged elements of the surrounding infrastructure.
Afterward, some protesters tore out the metal railings on the sidewalk and also used bricks toward the building, breaking window glass. They then entered the ministry’s outer perimeter, amid loud chants from the crowd.
Attempt to breach the entrance and flares in the courtyard
Tensions rose further when protesters tried to force open the iron gate to enter the building. At the same time, flares were thrown, making the situation more dangerous at a public institution in the heart of the capital.
Images and reports from the scene show a rapid escalation of the protest, while forces on the ground were deployed to block any approach to the main entrance.
Police intervention and detentions
According to the official version at the scene, police initially formed a cordon to push back the crowd. They then intervened with rubber batons and began detaining several protesters, while arrests were also reported.
The use of force by the blue uniforms and the way the crowd was managed is expected to raise questions about the proportionality of the response, especially in a protest where the situation shifted from a civic gathering to physical clashes within minutes.
Injured at the protest, calls not to back down
A water tanker using high-pressure water was also deployed in the intervention. During the chaos, one female protester was injured and was seen bleeding from the head.
Despite the police intervention, calls from the protest to not retreat continued. “Do not give up,” could be heard from the crowd, while tensions remained high in the area around the ministry.
The incident once again highlighted the sharp confrontation between the police response and protest in public spaces, with direct consequences for safety and public order.
So far, there is still no complete official picture of the exact number of people detained, arrested or injured during the incident.