Riots in Tirana. The opposition accuses Prime Minister Rama of corruption. Molotov cocktails are thrown at the Government headquarters.
Opposition protesters launched Molotov cocktails against the Albanian Government building on Thursday night, accusing the prime minister Eddie Rama of corruption and demanding his resignation.
Thousands of opposition supporters gathered in front of Rama’s office and later in front of the mayor’s office. Tirana, who also belongs to the Rama Socialist Party. The police did not intervene, but extinguished the flames of Molotov cocktails that put some agents in danger. There were no immediate reports of injuries.
Protests over the release of Sali Berisha
The protesters also demanded the release of the opposition leader Sali Berisha, who is under house arrest and investigated for alleged corruption while serving as prime minister between 2005 and 2013.
Berisha denied any wrongdoing and accused Rama of political revenge aimed at silencing opponents. Rama declined to comment, but has repeatedly denied this accusation. Prosecutors have not yet decided whether they will file formal charges against Berisha.
“Albania It is the only country in Europe where the opposition leader is under political arrest without any facts, evidence or documents“Berisha said via video link from his house arrest. “Edi Rama wants an Albania without Albanians, without opposition and without justice.”
Berisha called on his supporters to practice civil disobedience to force the government to call early elections. Rama has been in power since 2013 and has won all parliamentary and local elections. The next ones are scheduled for spring 2025.
