Protesters reportedly made an attempt to throw petrol bombs at a government facility, causing injuries to multiple police officers.
In the Albanian capital, Tirana, a group of demonstrators associated with the Democratic Party engaged in a protest by launching Molotov cocktails and fireworks towards the office of Prime Minister Edi Rama, as stated by local sources. The rally, triggered by corruption accusations against the deputy prime minister, attracted a large crowd estimated in the thousands, as per Albanian Daily News.
Several police officers sustained injuries during the incident, with three protesters being taken into custody, according to Ora News. Law enforcement responded by deploying tear gas and water cannons to disperse the protesters who were advancing towards the Parliament building in Tirana.
Albania has been facing an escalating political crisis since late October when Deputy PM Belinda Balluku was accused by anti-corruption prosecutors of tampering with significant state contracts. Allegations suggest that she manipulated public tenders to benefit specific companies involved in infrastructure projects like Tirana’s Greater Ring Road and the Llogara Tunnel. Balluku has refuted the accusations, dismissing them as “insinuations,” “half-truths,” and “lies.”
Following her dismissal by Albania’s Special Court Against Corruption and Organised Crime (SPAK) in November, Balluku was reinstated by the constitutional court last month, sparking widespread unrest. The decision to revoke her parliamentary immunity for potential arrest has been postponed until January 28.
Prime Minister Rama has stood by Balluku, criticizing her removal as setting a “unique and dangerous precedent” and labeling the suspension as “absurd.” He defended the anti-corruption agency, acknowledging its mistakes due to its recent establishment and independent authority.
Leaders of the opposition have vowed to continue anti-government protests in the future.