Europe

Tirana is ablaze and Rama accuses: ‘Moscow and Tehran are behind the protests’

Albanian university students have been protesting against the Albanian government for a week, at times resorting to violence. Joining them are the so-called ‘flamingos’: they are protesting against corruption and against the deal between the Prime Minister and Trump’s son-in-law for a luxury resort in a protected area.

by Giulia Riva

19 October 2026

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Un manifestante lancia una barricata durante una manifestazione studentesca antigovernativa a Tirana, in Albania, il 18 ottobre 2026. REUTERS/Louisa Gouliamaki IMMAGINI DEL GIORNO DI TPX REUTERS

3' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

3' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

Protests against Prime Minister Edi Rama’s government have now been ongoing for a week in Tirana. Or rather, for the past week, protests on the streets of Albania have turned violent: the latest clashes, yesterday evening – Sunday 18 October – saw demonstrators gather along Deshmoret e Kombit Avenue in the centre of the capital, attempting to approach the government headquarters and throwing stones at police officers, who responded by using tear gas to disperse the crowd. Numerous police units have been deployed to protect the building, including the Rapid Intervention Forces and the Eagles special units, as well as several vans and two vehicles fitted with water cannons. The number of arrests currently stands at nearly 200.

Albania, sesto giorno di proteste a Tirana: Edi Rama rifiuta le dimissioni

In recent days, young Albanian university students have been protesting – and not always peacefully – as they face the start of the new academic year at the mercy of dilapidated facilities and a high cost of living that makes it increasingly difficult to support themselves whilst studying away from home.

Anger and disappointment amongst students and the ‘flamingos’

The student protests, however, form part of a wider context of anger and disappointment, with the so-called ‘flamingos’ having been demonstrating (mostly peacefully) for over four months now. At the heart of this widespread discontent lies an agreement signed by the long-standing government – now in its fourth term – with Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner: the subject of this far-from-transparent deal is the construction of a luxury resort in a protected coastal area.

Albania, tensioni e scontri con la polizia nel quinto giorno di proteste degli studenti

Prime Minister Rama: ‘Foreign hands’ behind the violence

The latest official reports from the Albanian Prime Minister indicate that an explosive-laden drone, intended to strike the government headquarters in Tirana, was neutralised three days ago. According to Rama, ‘foreign hands’ are behind the attack: a theory he has maintained since the start of the anti-government protests, which this week escalated into attacks on public buildings, banks and shops. On Sunday evening, the ground floor of a police station was also set alight, with at least 16 officers injured. The drone was reportedly intended to strike a three-dimensional installation in the inner courtyard of the Government Palace, which is used as a venue for events and official meetings.

Albania, Edi Rama: "Neutralizzato drone esplosivo diretto a ufficio primo ministro"

“God only knows what the consequences would have been,” said Rama, adding that “it is neither young people, nor students, nor minors who could conceive of such a plan, let alone carry it out. This is the work of a foreign hand.”

The Prime Minister then highlighted a post on X by Aleksandr Dugin – regarded by some as Putin’s ideologue – which praised the protests in Albania. ‘We have a great deal of information regarding interference on social media by foreign powers, including Iran’, with whom Albania severed diplomatic relations in 2022, after suffering a massive cyber-attack on its digital infrastructure.

This was Moscow’s response, delivered by the spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry: “Edi Rama, it is the citizens of your own country who have taken to the streets to protest. You must not blame others, but resolve your internal problems yourselves,” commented Maria Zakharova.

According to Rama, ‘it is not my power that is at stake, but Albania’s accession to the European Union’, and this is supposedly the objective that is being obstructed.

In Albania terza notte con scontri tra polizia e manifestanti

“And this should be clear to the Albanians, who must decide whether they want this or EU membership,” continued the Prime Minister, who says he is open to dialogue. “Anyone who wants to talk to me, without a mask on their face, is welcome to do so. Anyone, however, who wants to send me messages by throwing stones whilst hiding their face will find the state standing in their way,” said Rama. But the protests show no sign of abating.

Brussels condemns the violence

Against this backdrop, the European Commission has also spoken out. “We condemn the use of violence in Tirana and other cities across Albania, including arson, attacks on state institutions and the destruction of public and private property. Violence has no place in a democratic society and the response to it must remain within the bounds of the law and be proportionate,” is the warning from Brussels, which adds that “those responsible should be held to account for their actions through due process”.

“Freedom of assembly and freedom of expression are fundamental rights and core European values, which must be respected and exercised peacefully. We welcome the Albanian authorities’ commitment to safeguarding the right to protest,” continues the Commission, which concludes in no uncertain terms: ‘In a candidate country firmly committed to the EU accession process and making significant progress on its path towards the Union, grievances should be addressed through constructive dialogue and in a peaceful manner.’