TIRANA, July 28 /ATA/ The DP chairman Sali Berisha on Tuesday condemned what he called violence against protesters during a demonstration outside parliament a day earlier, describing it as “brutal violence” and accusing the government of repressing citizens.
In a statement to the media, Berisha said women with young children, bystanders and other citizens had been targeted during the protest, while some people had been threatened for participating in a peaceful demonstration.
“I strongly condemn the severe violence used yesterday against protesters. Women with young children, citizens not involved in the protest, and protest representatives were assaulted and threatened simply for taking part in a peaceful demonstration,” he said.
Berisha said that “the acts of violence against peaceful protesters in recent days demonstrate, in his view, the nature of the current government,” which he described as a “dictatorial regime.”
“While condemning these acts in the strongest terms, I call on all Democratic Party members and supporters, as well as all citizens, to join and support this protest to remove what I consider one of the worst governments Albanians have seen in history,” Berisha said.
He said the protest’s demands were focused on protecting citizens’ interests, which he alleged were being undermined by the current administration.
“It is time for every Albanian citizen to contribute to saving the country. The demands of the youth-led civic protest movement represent, in my view, the demands of every honest Albanian citizen. They seek to defend the vital interests of Albanians, which I believe are being seriously threatened by organised crime and the government led by Edi Rama,” Berisha said, accusing the authorities of harming citizens’ economic well-being.
He urged Democratic Party supporters to play an active role in what he called a historic moment.
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