Albania: Covered up threw rocks and cocktails Molotov against the police

Dezenas of hooded protesters today threw sidewalk stones and “cocktails Molotov” against the police positioned in front of the Ministry of Education of Albania, before being repelled.

The protest began a new demonstration called by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama.

This Balkan country of 2.3 million inhabitants, ruled since 2013 by socialist Edi Rama, has been the scene for months of protests that, since mid-October, have become violent clashes between police and protesters in the streets of the Albanian capital.

Initially, hundreds of protesters protested peacefully against the Ministry of Education, starting point of daily demonstrations, shouting “Rama, quit!”, and “There is no Albania without youth!”, according to the news agency France Presse.

Then dozens of hooded youths took the lead, throwing sidewalk stones that had collected and “cocktails Molotov” against the shock police, after having burned down several paper companies.

Police responded with two water cannons and dispersed the protesters, who then headed for the Prime Minister's office under torrential rain.

The anti-governmental protests began in May with the rejection of a controversial tourist development project on the Albanian coast, which aimed to benefit the allies of the American President, Donald Trump. The indignation has widened since then, including charges of corruption.

The student movement, without a defined leadership, also denounces the deficiencies of the health system and the lack of opportunities for young people.

In the early days of the violent protests in mid-October, protesters burned down or damaged public buildings, including several ministries and courts, as well as numerous commercial establishments.

Almost 350 people have been injured to date, including approximately 200 police officers, 100 protesters and 40 civilians, said Albanian Interior Minister Ervin Demo last Friday, who deplored the presence, in the demonstrations, of “minors manipulated by the organizers and placed at the forefront of attacks and violence”.

According to the Demo, 269 people under 18 were arrested during the protests to date.

Last Wednesday, the government hardened its stance on protesters, introducing fines up to EUR 5,500 for those who commit violent acts.