PNN – Thousands of supporters of the opposition parties in Albania demonstrated on Thursday night in the capital city of Tirana, accusing Prime Minister Edi Rama of corruption and demanding his resignation.
According to the report of Pakistan News Network, citing Reuters, these protesters gathered in front of the prime minister’s office and the mayor of Tirana, who is a member of the ruling socialist party, to show their protest.
Protesters started throwing fire bombs and a confrontation took place between the protesters and the police. No reports of possible injuries or arrests of people in these protests have been published.
Protesters also demanded the release of opposition leader Sally Barisha from house arrest. He, who was the Prime Minister of Albania from 2005 to 2013, has been accused of corruption and the investigation is ongoing. Prosecutors have yet to decide whether to file formal indictments against Berisha.
Brisha has denied the corruption charges, saying they are the result of Rama’s political revenge to silence the opposition.
Speaking to the protesters through a video call from his home, he said: “Albania is the only European country where the leader of the opposition has been placed under house arrest without any reason, document or evidence.”
Berisha added: Edi Rama wants a country without the presence of Albanians, without opposition and without justice.
He also called for civil disobedience of his supporters to force Rama’s government to hold early elections.
Rama has been in power since 2013 and has won all parliamentary and local elections since then.