Chaos as Protests Intensify; Government Alleges Foreign Interference
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has accused a “hybrid war” of worsening the political situation in his country. His comments came after anti-government demonstrations in the capital, Tirana, turned violent over the past week.
Protests that had been under way for several months intensified from last Tuesday. They were prompted by demands for improvements to higher education and public anger over alleged corruption.
Thousands of people have taken to the streets and repeatedly clashed with security forces. According to AFP, police have often used water cannon, tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse crowds targeting government buildings.
Several shops in parts of the capital have also been damaged.
Clashes, which had been smaller in scale earlier on Tuesday, flared again. Demonstrators renewed calls for Rama, the centre-left leader, to resign.
Riot police fired tear gas and used water cannon to drive back crowds trying to approach government offices. Protesters responded by setting off fireworks and throwing petrol bombs and stones at officers.
Some demonstrators also set fire to rubbish bins to use as road barricades.
Authorities said about 300 people had been injured in clashes over the week. More than half of them were police officers.
Rama alleges foreign interference
In a statement broadcast live during a visit to the Ministry of Education on Tuesday, Rama again blamed foreign actors for the violence. He had previously accused Russia and Iran of being behind the spread of disinformation online.
“This has now been acknowledged and has become a major issue across Europe,” Rama said, according to AFP on Wednesday (21 October 2026).
He said the unrest was part of a hybrid war that exploited real problems in society, rather than issues that had simply been invented.
“This is a hybrid war that is gaining momentum precisely because it is rooted in genuine grievances, not mere fantasy,” he said.
Rama referred to concerns among residents, including the rising cost of living, the difficulty of finding affordable housing and anxiety about the future.
Amid the turmoil, Rama also signalled that social media use by children under 16 could be restricted. He also referred to plans to change the age of criminal responsibility.
Lecturers take to the streets and call for an end to violence
The demonstrations in Albania have not been limited to university students. Some secondary-school pupils have also joined the protests, although police and local authorities have repeatedly condemned the involvement of minors in acts of violence.
On Tuesday morning, hundreds of university professors held a solidarity rally in support of the demonstrators and to protest against police violence towards students.
They carried banners reading “Stop violence against students” and also called for Rama to step down.
The week of demonstrations has caused serious damage to several government buildings, including the Ministry of Education.
The anti-government protests in the Balkan country were initially triggered by controversy over the construction of a resort linked to the family of US President Donald Trump. Anger over the project has since grown into a broader movement opposing corruption.
Demonstrators continue to demand Rama’s resignation amid mounting dissatisfaction with his government.