The protest in Tirana entered its fourth day with a later and calmer start than on previous evenings, but the situation again escalated into fierce clashes with the police. From the Ministry of Education to the Prime Minister’s Office, the center of the capital was engulfed by stones, tear gas and pepper spray water, while injuries were also reported on both sides.
The march began more calmly, but tensions quickly returned
According to developments reported from the ground, the protest on this day began later than on previous occasions and initially with less tension. The protesters marched through several streets of Tirana and first stopped in front of the Ministry of Education.
There, the head of the FNSH for Tirana called on protesters not to attack the police, stating that the law enforcement forces were on duty to protect institutions. Despite this appeal, the several-hour standoff in front of the ministry was accompanied by clashes and tension.
Durrës Street was blocked by police forces
On Durrës Street, the police had been deployed in greater numbers and at key points, preventing the movement of protesters toward areas considered more sensitive. This positioning appears to have prevented the crowd from breaking into some routes, but it did not ease the climate of confrontation.
After nearly two hours in front of the Ministry of Education, where protesters threw stones and police used tear gas and pepper spray water, the crowd moved toward the Prime Minister’s Office. A large police presence was also waiting for them there.
Buildings targeted and the police response
In the later phase of the protest, some young people targeted the building of the Assembly Presidency, where the shutters were damaged. Later, according to reports from the ground, the sidewalk was also damaged and stones removed from there were used against the police.
The reported version of the police intervention describes a tactic less exposed than usual: officers stayed behind water cannon vehicles and advanced using pepper spray water and tear gas. The clashes stretched along the boulevard, while police managed to push protesters back to the Rinia Park area.
Reports of injuries and acts of damage in the city
The protesters’ retreat toward Rinia Park did not end the tension. According to reports, the crowd became more aggressive, attacked the former Dajti hotel building, damaged various objects on the street and set several garbage bins on fire.
Serious incidents were also reported during the clashes. A girl was struck in the head by a tear gas canister, while one protester, according to reports from the ground, was beaten by several police officers near the Pyramid. Several minors and police officers also presented at the hospital.
The full toll of the damage, the number of injured people and responsibility for the use of force remains unclear. What was seen in central Tirana is that the confrontation between protesters and the state is entering a harsher phase, with visible costs for public safety and for the city.