TIRANA, October 14 /ATA/ – Minister of Interior Ervin Demo condemned today the acts of violence and the destruction of public and private property during the protest in Tirana.
In a statement, Demo remarked that today’s events do not represent the students’ demands, while emphasizing that the government is ready to continue the dialogue on improving higher education.
“Today, everyone in Albania saw that the country’s oldest political faction—now on its deathbed but refusing to surrender—used the students as a shield to unleash destruction, fire, and the plundering of public and private property,” the minister said.
He highlighted that foreign actors, operating via social media, were also involved in the acts of violence.
Further on, the minister addressed the students—particularly those studying medicine—emphasizing that the government does not view them as adversaries, even when they hold differing political views. He raised the question of what kind of Albania the students wish to inherit and urged them to voice their demands through dialogue.
“The government is always open to you; the University Pact emerged from a protest by your predecessors in the lecture halls and remains an open book—ready for new chapters to be written through dialogue, not stones. If you seek faster progress, this is the path to take, not the one seen over the last 48 hours—a course orchestrated by malicious minds with no connection to you,” the minister said.
Demo also addressed those who committed arson and destroyed public and private property, warning of legal consequences.
Addressing the citizens of Tirana, he asked for patience regarding the situation, emphasizing that the sight of fires near the ministries should not be interpreted as a sign of state weakness.
Demo concluded by saying that the government possesses more information than it can currently make public and expressed confidence that these events would not set the country back. /p.s./
