TIRANA, Oct. 23 /ATA/ – Prime Minister Edi Rama on Friday published photographs and identifying initials of people detained by state police during violent protests in Tirana, saying they were not students but part of what he described as the criminal element behind the demonstrations.
“I will now share images that will certainly shock many people. For confidentiality reasons, the individuals’ identities have been protected, in accordance with the law. All those shown are now subject to investigations by the State Police and the Albanian justice system,” Rama said.
He said those detained during the protests had no connection with students supporting peaceful demonstrations over issues affecting their everyday lives.
“They are all individuals detained by the State Police during violent protests. They are not students; they are something else. They have nothing to do with the students who have not joined this wave of urban terror but are pursuing a peaceful protest focused on their everyday lives,” Rama said.
The prime minister added that some students were supporting the protests on social media because they saw violence as a way to put pressure on the government and state institutions.
“Unfortunately, they see violence as an opportunity to bring Albania’s elected government and its institutions to their knees and, ultimately, to force me to violate an agreement with the Albanian people in a way that is unacceptable,” he said.
Rama described those detained as part of the “criminal element of a protest” that he said had been glorified by what he called corrupt media outlets, celebrities and television personalities.
He accused some public figures of expressing concern for pensioners and students while receiving large sums of undeclared money and exploiting pension funds.
Rama stressed, however, that opposition to his government did not deprive students, citizens or ordinary families of their right to protest.
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