Police also declared 30 people wanted in connection with acts of violence.

According to the police, officers were subjected to hours of attacks during the protest, which took place in several parts of the capital. They were attacked with stones, screws, metal balls, wooden and metal sticks, pyrotechnic devices, Molotov cocktails and gas canisters fitted with detonators.

As a result of attacks by masked and violent individuals, several police officers were injured and received medical treatment.

Meanwhile, 13 individuals were placed under criminal investigation, while a further 30 were declared wanted by the police.

Investigations are ongoing to establish the full circumstances of the incidents, identify all those involved and ensure they are held legally accountable.

The relevant case files have been submitted to the Prosecution Office for followup proceedings.

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Police announced that these citizens are suspected of having thrown stones and other hard objects at police officers and vehicles during the rally, as well as damaging trash bins and traffic signboards using hard objects and fire.

According to the police, as a result of the attack and violence by masked and violent individuals during yesterday’s demonstration, 7 police officers were injured.

Meanwhile, over the course of 7 days of violent protests, 271 citizens have been arrested, 51 of whom have prior criminal records in connection with murder, assault, illegal possession of firearms, drug production and trafficking, prostitution, extortion through threats, theft, fraud, forgery of documents, illegal possession of cold weapons, participation in illegal gatherings, assaulting/resisting/disobeying police officers, as well as environmental and traffic offenses.

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“There was no evidence that any of the arrested protesters had engaged in illegal activity,” lawyer Marash Logu said.
He stressed that the Democratic Party (DP) would pursue the cases before the Court of Appeal as well.

They were arrested on suspicion of offences including assault on account of duty, disturbing public order and peace, violating regulations on explosive and flammable substances, theft from banks and savings banks, destruction of property, arson, resisting a public order officer, and the unauthorised manufacture, possession, purchase or sale of bladed weapons.

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Wendt also held a meeting with the head of the National Bureau of Investigation, Joni Keta.

In a social media post, the US Embassy in Tirana said the meeting focused on the role of independent institutions in addressing these challenges.

The US Embassy stressed that combating transnational crime, drug trafficking and illegal migration are top priorities for US President Donald Trump.

The meeting also addressed cooperation between the United States and Albania and the contribution of this partnership to strengthening security.

Combatting transnational crime, narco-trafficking, and illegal migration are top priorities for President Donald Trump. Ambassador Eric Wendt met with SPAK leadership to discuss the key impact independent institutions have in addressing these challenges and how our partnership contributes to a safer, more prosperous future for both nations, the US embassy says in its post.

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In a press release, the Association of Prosecutors expressed concern over the proposed changes, saying they “risk fragmenting investigative powers, limiting the tools of obtaining evidence, and weakening the effectiveness of criminal prosecution, particularly in the fight against corruption and organized crime.”

“As an independent magistrate, the prosecutor has a responsibility to conduct full and comprehensive investigations, gathering evidence substantiating both the person’s guilt and innocence. Exercising this responsibility requires effective investigative tools, accompanied by judicial oversight and safeguards for the rights of every individual. Changes that affect the foundations of criminal proceedings require in-depth analysis of practice and a thorough assessment of their impact,” the prosecutors emphasized.

According to them, “the mechanical combination of solutions drawn from different procedural models, without taking into account the institutional architecture of the Albanian system, risks creating uncertainty and an atypical system.”

“Any changes should advance the standards of the Justice Reform, while preserving the prosecutor’s leading role in investigations and judicial oversight as a complementary safeguard of legality and individual rights. The disclosure of all evidence at the early stages of proceedings, restrictions on personal security measures, and obstacles to expanding investigations to new related facts risk compromising the preservation of evidence, investigative secrecy, and the effectiveness of investigations, particularly in cases involving corruption and organized crime,” the association further stated.

Prosecutors also emphasize that “the invalidity of procedural acts and the inadmissibility of evidence should be linked to the severity of the violation and its impact on the evidence or the rights of the defense, rather than becoming automatic consequences that risk undermining the entire criminal case.

The Association of Prosecutors is calling for a genuine, inclusive consultation process with sufficient time for professional debate, and says it remains committed to carrying out a more in-depth analysis of the draft law.

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“The critical support of the Italian and French governments granted us access to world-class expertise,” they stated, “while the insights of Italian, French, and Dutch professors and magistrates provided the deep comparative analysis this reform required,” stated Rama during presentation of the package.

The Head of Government thanked everyone involved, “not only for their unquestionable professionalism, but also for their impressive readiness to assist.”

He emphasized that, “This package is not ours alone; it required high-precision legal expertise to navigate democracy’s most delicate balancing act. It directly addresses the tension between society’s need for criminal protection through the courts, and the individual’s right to be protected from judicial error or abuse.” Precisely for this reason, the prime minister continued, we chose to entrust its drafting to 19 academics and magistrates from Italy, France, and the Netherlands—working alongside Council of Europe experts and with the active support of the Italian and French Ministries of Justice.

According to him, the Albanian technical secretariat merely coordinated this vast undertaking.

“The more than 100 articles in this package are the result of hundreds of hours of work and debate among experts who—deliberately—hail from diverse legal traditions, all under the rigorous oversight of the Council of Europe; the Council has certified every step of the process, as well as the final document now ready to serve as the basis for public consultation,” Rama said.

Further on, Rama stated, “There is not a single ‘Albanian-style’ patch-up job or any externally imported weapon in those 105 articles; every solution has been cross-referenced to our Constitution, Constitutional Court rulings, the Supreme Court’s unifying decisions, the case law of the Strasbourg Court and EU law.”

“The Council of Europe has vetted the package against the Convention and European standards, recognizing it as a project that enhances the transparency of criminal proceedings and genuinely expands defense rights. For us, this serves as the best guarantee that we are undertaking another reform to modernize the justice system and Europeanize the Albanian state—a reform ensuring that criminal proceedings begin with the premise of liberty, rather than with imprisonment as the starting point,” said Rama. /p.s./

The meeting was also attended by Minister of Interior Ervin Demo, Director General of the State Police Skënder Hita, heads of law enforcement agencies, the International President of FBINAA, and U.S. Chargé d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Tirana, Nancy VanHorn.

In his remarks, Braho said: “Through our investigations, we have gained insight into how criminal groups are organized, how they establish cross-border connections, and how they conceal and transfer their illicit proceeds. This knowledge can also support the investigations you conduct in your respective countries.”

“For SPAK, cooperation also means taking responsibility for supporting our partners’ investigations with the same commitment we expect in response to our own requests. Information obtained in Albania can help resolve a case in your country, while evidence provided by you can be crucial to an investigation in Albania. It is through this reciprocal cooperation that trust is built and we demonstrate that we can rely on one another,” Braho said.

The chief prosecutor of SPAK expressed particular appreciation to the FBI and international partners for their support and expertise.

“Our commitment is to respond with the same level of responsibility and seriousness. I hope that during your stay in Tirana, you will take away valuable ideas for your work and build relationships with colleagues whom you can confidently turn to in the future,” Braho said.

He added that international cooperation is a key part of SPAK’s work. “An investigation may start in Tirana, but communications, bank transfers, and assets we seek to trace can lead us to several other countries.”

“In such cases, the progress of an investigation also depends on colleagues who understand our requests, handle them responsibly, and help us obtain the evidence we are missing. I believe many of you are familiar with this experience and understand how important it is to know the institution you are dealing with and to have confidence in the professionals working there. This is where the added value of this network lies,” Braho emphasized.

The chief prosecutor of SPAK stressed that the shared experience at the FBI National Academy fosters professional relationships that extend well beyond the completion of the training.

“This network keeps those ties active and helps transform professional connections into concrete cooperation. The community now also includes the first graduate from the National Bureau of Investigation, alongside numerous colleagues from the State Police and other Albanian law enforcement agencies,” he said.

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Speaking at a roundtable on security measures, the High Court’s unifying decision, and the case law of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), Gogu emphasized that cooperation with the Council of Europe is now moving beyond recommendations and into the implementation of concrete reform.

“Our cooperation with the Council of Europe goes beyond the document under discussion today. Its recommendations are directly shaping the review of the Code of Criminal Procedure that we have now embarked on,” the minister said.

According to Gogu, the review is addressing issues such as the criteria for pre-trial detention, the need for tailored reasoning when imposing such measures, meaningful consideration of less restrictive alternatives, access to the materials supporting applications for security measures, and stronger alternatives to detention.

The minister emphasized that the direction of the reform must also guarantee the effectiveness of the criminal justice system and the safeguards of due process and individual liberty.

“The state’s capacity to investigate and prosecute must remain strong. But the safeguards of due process and the protection of individual liberty must be equally strong. One cannot be achieved by weakening the other,” Gogu said.

Alongside the legal changes, the Ministry of Justice is working to restore electronic monitoring, one of the instruments that gives courts a real opportunity to implement alternative measures.

Gogu said that the necessary funding for 2027 has been secured and that the goal is for the electronic monitoring system to be operational by March 2027.

“An alternative that the state cannot actually provide is no alternative at all. It is the responsibility of the executive branch to ensure that such alternatives are available, not the responsibility of the courts,” the minister said.

The system is expected to involve trained personnel, clear protocols for response and reporting to the courts and prosecution service, as well as strengthened capacity within the Probation Service.

The minister further highlighted the institutional boundaries between the executive and the judiciary, emphasizing that the Ministry of Justice does not have a role in deciding which security measure is appropriate in a particular case.

“The High Court has clarified the applicable standard. Our role is to ensure that the legal framework reflects that standard, while also establishing electronic monitoring and strengthening the Probation Service so that alternative measures are practical and reliable. Clearer laws, effective alternatives, and functioning institutions—that is the responsibility that rests with us,” Gogu concluded.

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The event, attended by a delegation of board members from the World Jurist Association and the World Law Foundation, focused on preparations for the next edition of the World Law Congress Albania 2027. Scheduled for May in Tirana, the congress will bring together some of the most prominent figures of the global justice community.

During the meeting it was officially confirmed that Italian President Sergio Mattarella will attend the event as guest of honour, alongside His Majesty King Felipe VI of Spain and senior representatives of international institutions and the judiciary.

Albania’s designation as host of this prestigious event is not only a distinct honour for the country, but also a clear testament that the work, standards and performance of its highest judicial institutions are increasingly valued by international partners.

This trust is not simply a recognition of Albania’s capacity to host an international event. It also serves as an important signal of how the country’s judicial institutions are viewed within the global legal community — as credible partners for building dialogue, cooperation and high‑level collaboration.

As co‑organiser of WLC 2027, the High Court remains committed to its mission of strengthening international cooperation, ensuring that Albania will rise to expectations when hosting the world’s leading figures of justice in 2027.

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