TIRANA, April 19 /ATA/ – The OSCE Presence, the United States Embassy and the Delegation of the European Union to Albania condemned the acts of violence as a number of opposition supporters gathered outside the Municipality of Tirana on Friday, calling for Mayor Erion Veliaj’s resignation.
In a post on the social media, the OSCE Presence said that “peaceful protest is a legitimate democratic act, violence is not.”
The United States Embassy and the Delegation of the European Union also condemned violence during today’s protest.
The US Embassy issued a statement condemning the violence.
“The United States Embassy condemns the acts of violence during today’s protest at the Tirana Municipality. The right to peacefully assemble, protest and demand action against corruption are all vital in any democracy, but the violence undertaken by the organizers has no place. Responsible political actors should reject all forms of violence. We salute law enforcement officials for their professionalism during today’s protest,” the statement reads.
The EU delegation said acts of violence have no place in a democratic society.
“We strongly deplore the violence during the protest in Tirana downtown today, during which improvised incendiary devices were thrown at the municipality building. Such acts have no place in a democratic society and have nothing to do with the legitimate right to peaceful protest,” the EU Delegation said in a statement via the social media.
Protestors hurled smoking bombs and Molotov cocktails on the Tirana Municipality building and clashed with the riot police after attempting to enter the building. Today’s demonstration was the third in a series of protests outside the Municipality of Tirana following the arrest of officials associated with the municipal administration.
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