Tirana protests turn violent: 9 officers injured, 18 protesters arrested

Full text

TIRANA, Albania — Ongoing protests in Tirana continued to intensify Thursday, with nine police officers injured and 18 protestors arrested after serious clashes outside Parliament.

Prime Minister Edi Rama reacted to the unfolding scenes on X , writing in an ironic tone that the once “beautiful protest of citizenship, patriotism, and purity has given way to the old story of conflict, strife and violence,” and adding several clown emojis.

Albanians have been protesting for 33 days in the so-called Flamingo Revolution , initially in opposition to a proposed luxury resort on the southern coast linked to U.S. President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, then evolving into a broader movement against the political elite.

Protesters have asked for the resignation of Rama, opposition leader Sali Berisha and the entire government, as well as the installation of a non-political technical government and sweeping changes to the electoral code and laws related to protected areas and investment, which activists say will bring about a “new Albania.”

Following tussles between police and protesters outside Parliament on Tuesday , police erected metal fences to ensure the safety of members of parliament as they arrived for a plenary session on Thursday, heightening tensions and resulting in further confrontations with protesters.

One protester smashed a police car windscreen with a metal barrier while others threw rocks and paving tiles at police. Footage has also emerged on social media of police dragging protesters and hitting them with batons . Opposition Democratic Party deputy, Jorida Tabaku, condemned on Instagram the “insane images of police violence,” calling it unacceptable.

While Rama — who has alleged foreign interference in the movement — has offered to enter into dialogue with some protesters about their environmental concerns, he has refused to resign. Protesters say they will continue to protest until their demands are met.