Albania student protests grew more confrontational on Friday as Prime Minister Edi Rama accused “foreign hands” of stoking the unrest and stood firm against demands for his resignation.
Riot police and demonstrators clashed for a fourth consecutive day outside the Ministry of Education, while thousands of mostly young people marched through central Tirana to denounce government corruption and deteriorating university conditions, according to officials and local reports.
In a video address on Friday, Rama said the turmoil was not a grass-roots student movement. He asserted there were “foreign hands that do not wish for Albania to be at peace,” and argued the protests had “absolutely nothing to do with the hardships, problems or legitimate aspirations of anyone who desires a better life.”
Police deployed water cannon and tear gas as protesters threw rocks. The unrest spread beyond the capital to Elbasan, Shkodra and Korca, where demonstrators broke windows and set rubbish bins on fire, local media reported.
The escalation follows months of predominantly peaceful rallies that began after the sale of a section of Albania’s coastline to a luxury resort project linked to Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of former U.S. President Donald Trump.
In recent days, protesters have increasingly targeted banks and state buildings. On Tuesday, crowds hurled bricks and concrete blocks at the Education Ministry. Fires were set at multiple sites across Tirana, including the prime minister’s office, the finance and justice ministry buildings and several bank branches. Police said 160 people were detained on Thursday evening over alleged acts of violence.
The EU question and political stakes in Albania student protests
Demonstrators are calling for Rama’s resignation along with electoral and education reforms. The government has denied corruption allegations. Rama said he was willing to discuss the rise in education costs but rejected stepping down. “My responsibility is to listen, address legitimate concerns and keep Albania moving forward,” he said on Thursday, adding that his dismissal “would be a betrayal of the Albanians who gave me a strong mandate to complete negotiations on European Union membership.”
Corruption scandals have complicated Albania’s path toward the EU, and analysts say the country has served as a hub for criminal networks laundering proceeds from drug and weapons trafficking. Rama secured a fourth term last year on a pledge to advance EU accession, with an aim of membership as early as 2028.
The unrest comes as regional and global tensions remain high, with critics drawing parallels to disputes over energy and sanctions such as those highlighted in debates around a Russia diesel deal.