TIRANA, Oct 18 /ATA/ – Interior Minister Ervin Hoxha has rejected the allegations that State Police officers were armed and drew firearms during altercations and chaos outside parliament building a day ago.
In a press statement on Friday, the Interior Minister stated that political violence won’t be tolerated and reiterated that police officers were not armed during clashes with main Democratic Party lawmakers.
“It is deplorable that the opposition MPs committed violence against the State Police and Republican Guard members, who were on duty. The right to protest is guaranteed, but violence and attacks against officers will not be tolerated,” Hoxha told reporters.
Hoxha defended the conduct of the police, who were deployed to restore order after opposition MPs protested in the parliament.
The confrontation erupted amid rising tensions between the ruling Socialist Party and the Democratic Party-led opposition, which accuses the government of eroding democratic freedoms.
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