TIRANA, Oct. 23 /ATA/ – Prime Minister Edi Rama said on Friday that violence during recent protests in the Albanian capital had been prepared months in advance, alleging that the demonstrations had been influenced by external forces and that police were in possession of relevant evidence.
Speaking in a message posted on his social media platforms, Rama said he wanted to present evidence relating to an issue for which he had faced ridicule and criticism, including accusations that his comments were insulting to students.
He said he had recognised the legitimacy of protesters’ demands for improvements since the start of the peaceful demonstrations, but maintained that other forces had influenced the movement from the outset.
“From the very beginning of the mass peaceful protest of the flamingos, I said that the reasons for protesting were legitimate. The reasons for protesting and demanding more and better can be endless. But the fact that the protest was heavily influenced by other forces from the outset became evident in its full scale during this second, violent wave,” Rama said.
He said the escalation had been planned over several months, citing information about the entry into Albania of masks, explosive materials and other items through customs and via certain entities.
“The escalation has been prepared over several months. Information on the entry into Albania of masks, explosive materials and so on, through customs and by certain entities, is now in the hands of the State Police,” he said.
Rama also referred to the organisation of groups he linked to the ANTIFA network, which he described as a network of urban terror operating in the name of neo-communism, anarchism and anti-capitalism.
“Information on the organisation of groups as part of the ANTIFA network, an urban terror network that has decided to intrude into people’s lives through violence in the name of neo-communism, anarchism and anti-capitalism, is in the hands of the State Police,” Rama said.
He added that police also had information on some of those involved in the violent acts, which he alleged had been financed by organised crime and foreign forces.
“The State Police also have information on those involved, or rather some of those involved, in this violence, which was directly financed by organised crime and foreign forces, with money coming from abroad. The icing on the cake – or, more accurately, the filth on the cake – is the Democratic Party, which yesterday also claimed responsibility for the violence, including the outbreak of violence at the Ministry of Education,” Rama said.
/gj.m/u.sh/
