The Albanian government has approved a new legislative package aimed at preventing violence during public protests, introducing tougher fines, temporary restrictions on gatherings and additional police powers.
Under the new measures, participation in a prohibited assembly and concealing one’s identity during protests may result in fines ranging from 10,000 to 100,000 Albanian lek. Failure to comply with police dispersal orders could lead to fines of up to 500,000 lek in certain circumstances.
Police will also be allowed to temporarily restrict gatherings near educational, healthcare and government institutions for up to 72 hours when there is a serious and imminent risk of violence or property damage.
The legislation also introduces measures targeting calls for violence on social media. Police may request the removal of such content and take further action if the requests are ignored or the behaviour is repeated.
Another key measure is the creation of a special electronic register of individuals referred to prosecutors or under investigation for violent offences committed during public demonstrations.
Border police may use information from the register to refuse individuals permission to leave the country in certain cases, even when no court-ordered travel restriction is in place.
The package also requires police to record warnings to disperse protests and incidents of violence using audiovisual equipment.
The measures follow a series of violent protests and are intended to strengthen public safety and prevent further incidents.
The post Albanian Government Approves New Measures to Prevent Violence During Protests appeared first on Euronews Albania.
