Citizens and officials of the DP opposition protested again today in front of the municipality of the Albanian capital, Tirana, demanding the removal of its head Erjon Veliaj, after the arrest of several of his former officials for corruption.
Protesters threw Molotov cocktails in front of the City Hall building, as well as throwing paint and fruits at the building and the officers protecting it.
Dozens of police forces had surrounded the building to ensure order in front of the municipality, while the citizens together with the opposition’s municipal councilors broke the metal barrier, trying to enter the building. A fire started in front of the entrance of the municipality from Molotov bottles thrown by some protesters.
The American Embassy in Tirana said after the opposition’s protest in front of the Tirana City Hall that it condemns the violence while emphasizing that “responsible political actors must reject any form of violence”.
“The Embassy of the United States condemns the acts of violence during today’s protest near the Municipality of Tirana. The right to assemble peacefully, to protest and to demand action against corruption are all vital in democracy, but there is no place for the violence undertaken by the participants,” the statement said, among other things.
In similar tones, a statement from the representation of the European Union condemned individual acts of violence by protesters.
Top Channel
