TIRANA, October 7/ATA/ The Democratic Party in opposition started its warned protest at around 18:40. The protesters gathered in the square in front of the government building along the “Martyrs’ of the Nation” boulevard.
Opposition protest clashed with police and threw Molotov cocktails against government building. State Police called on the protesters to maintain calm.
A tree in front of the Premier’s Office was also burnt by the throwing of Molotov cocktails, while the police tried to put out the fire. After throwing some Molotov cocktails and smoke bombs, the situation seemed to have calmed down.
Later on, the protesters moved away from the premier’s office and burned a bus station. Meanwhile, the protesters threw more pyrotechnic devices.
The DP called the protest as a reaction after the 1-year prison sentence of the deputy Chairperson of the DP Parliamentary group Ervin Salianji, who was found guilty by the court for “False Reporting” related to the “Babalja” file.
The protest called by the Democratic Party is also supported by the Freedom Party and does not foresee any public statements. Head of the Democratic Party Sali Berisha refused to provide details on the scenarios of how this protest will take place. Earlier, he has stated that civil disobedience is the only answer left to the opposition.
The supporters of the Democratic Party first gathered at the blue headquarters to continue on to the square in front of the premier’s office. Berisha himself is under “house arrest”, as he is a defendant in the privatization file of the former “Partizani” sports complex. Meanwhile, the protesters’ march was led by Flamur Noka, General Secretary of the DP; Luciano Boçi, vice president of the Democratic Party; Gazment Bardhi, chairman of the DP Parliamentary group; the deputy Speaker of the Assembly, MP Agron Gjekmarkaj, as well as MP Oerd Bylykbashi and Edi Paloka.
Meanwhile, Head of the Freedom Party Ilir Meta departed his party’s headquarters, in the area of the former “Block”, to arrive in the area where the protest was taking place.
The protest is predicted by the organizers to last four hours. Meanwhile, shortly before its departure, a tire burned near the president’s office, but the flames were immediately extinguished by the Police.
The State Police, since Monday morning, has announced the measures taken to maintain order and security, before, during and after the protest. /p.s./
