Deputy Prime Minister Albana Koçiu went to Student City one day after several buildings were hit with stones and the glass of doors and windows was broken. The visit came at a tense moment, as the government is offering a strongly political and security-focused reading of the latest events in Tirana.
Visit after damage to dormitories
According to Koçiu’s public statement, Student City was targeted by violence last night, striking a space that should provide safety for students.
She described the situation as an episode of fear and vandalism, following the reported damage to several dormitory buildings.
Government distances the protest from students
In her reaction, Koçiu insisted that what happened does not represent the students’ protest. According to her, students should be heard on their demands, but should not be identified with the destruction of dormitories, the intimidation of their peers, or violence against schools.
This position suggests that the government is trying to publicly separate students from the violent episodes, without at this stage giving further concrete details about those responsible.
Government’s political assessment of the last four days
Koçiu said the events of the last four days in Tirana are unacceptable. In the official version, the case involves burned institutions, damaged businesses, terrorized citizens, and attacked police officers.
The rhetoric used by the government places the emphasis on order and security, while warning that every act of violence will be investigated to the end.
Message to students and support for police
From Student City, the deputy prime minister asked students living in the buildings to remain calm. At the same time, she thanked officers of the State Police and called for cooperation with law enforcement structures.
According to Koçiu, the police are there to guarantee security and public order. However, at the center of the debate remains the fact that a sensitive space such as Student City was attacked, while students are waiting for more than political statements: real security and clarification about those responsible.
The incident at Student City increases pressure on institutions to provide not only verbal condemnations, but also clear answers on the perpetrators and the failure to prevent the escalation of the situation.
For now, the government’s public statement remains focused on condemning violence and supporting the police, while the main question remains open: how was it allowed for the dormitories to become the target of an attack?