Prime Minister Edi Rama said that Albania guarantees the right to protest and allows citizens to demonstrate freely.
He spoke at a press conference with EU journalists at the Prime Minister’s Office.
Furthermore, he addressed recent protests against the Zvërnec investment project. He said a violent incident involving a security guard sparked the demonstrations.
“I have taken part in protests myself,” Rama said. “I know what it feels like to protest in difficult conditions.”
He also recalled past political violence in Albania. He said four protesters died during a 2011 demonstration in Tirana.
In addition, he emphasized that Albania has strengthened democratic freedoms over the years. He said citizens now exercise rights they fought hard to win.
“It is a major achievement of this decade,” he said. “Albanians fought for this freedom for a long time.”
Moreover, Rama said a security guard attacked a protester in Zvërnec. He said this act triggered public anger. Authorities reacted immediately, he added. Police arrested the guard and dismissed the police director in Vlorë.
In addition, he said investigators placed the local police unit under review for failing to intervene. He also said authorities revoked the security company’s license.
“We took swift and strict measures,” Rama said.
Furthermore, he said the viral video shifted public debate beyond the original incident. He said discussions moved from facts to speculation about the project.
However, he stressed that the core issue got lost in broader claims about property and development. Finally, Rama said citizens can protest freely, but he urged public debate to stay grounded in facts and legal processes.
/a.c/
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