TIRANA, Oct 24 /ATA/ – Prime Minister Edi Rama said on Saturday that the government was working intensively to address grievances behind recent protests, stressing that the right to demonstrate must be guaranteed but cannot justify violence.
Speaking alongside Interior Minister Ervin Demo, Rama said he was attentive to the reasons citizens supported the protests, regardless of their political affiliations, while distinguishing peaceful demonstrators from groups he accused of engaging in violence.
“We are working intensively, putting in long hours to address both sides of this issue,” Rama said, adding that many people had legitimate reasons to support the protests while distancing themselves from violence.
He alleged that the violence had been carried out by a mix of ideologically and religiously radicalised individuals, people with criminal records and others allegedly paid to fuel divisions, who had mingled with protesters and posed as students.
Rama reaffirmed that peaceful protest was a fundamental democratic right and said it was the path to dialogue.
“Every democratic state must guarantee the right to protest. And peaceful protest is the path that leads to dialogue,” he said.
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