TIRANA, Oct. 21 /ATA/ – Prime Minister Edi Rama said on Wednesday that recent violent attacks during youth protests in Tirana were orchestrated and involved external elements, accusing the perpetrators of seeking to destabilise Europe.
Rama made the remarks at a meeting with banking sector executives at the Bank of Albania, following attacks during recent protests targeting institutions, businesses, banks and police.
He said the government would make no concessions to violent protesters.
“It was very important to hold this meeting with you after a wave of violent hysteria held Tirana hostage, creating the impression of an escalation that could engulf the whole of Albania. We will make no concessions. This is orchestrated violence linked to external elements,” Rama said.
He also referred to the “Antifa” movement, describing it as a neo-communist Marxist movement that, he claimed, was active in other European capitals as well.
Rama said radicalised young people had taken part in the violent protests, accusing them of calling for the imprisonment and exile of those who disagreed with them. He also pointed to the involvement of criminal elements.
“This is also happening in other European capitals through a neo-communist Marxist movement called ‘Antifa’,” Rama said.
“Radicalised young women and men are making calls reminiscent of the Middle Ages to imprison and exile anyone they consider to represent evil. Alongside this, there is a criminal element,” he added.
Rama alleged that organised crime was backing petty street-level criminals and that foreign forces seeking to destabilise Europe were supporting these elements.
“Street-level criminals are brought together with the backing of organised crime. They then receive support from foreign forces whose aim is to destabilise Europe. These elements are not students,” the prime minister said.
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