Israeli embassy temporarily closed as Albanian protesters clash with police in Tirana
Demonstrations over corruption and a lack of jobs have begun spreading throughout Albania, with protesters smashing windows, setting alight government buildings, and clashing with police.
The Israeli embassy in Albania's capital, Tirana, announced a temporary closure on Friday due to escalating anti-government protests involving thousands of Albanians, according to KAN News. The embassy did not disclose a reopening date but indicated that it would depend on the situation. On Saturday, a crowd of young Albanians stormed the Education Ministry in central Tirana, marking the fifth day of a student-led movement demanding Prime Minister Edi Rama's resignation.
The demonstration turned violent as a masked group attacked riot police with rocks; the police retaliated with stun grenades, tear gas, and a water cannon.
Protests against corruption and unemployment have spread across Albania, with demonstrators smashing windows, setting government buildings ablaze, and clashing with law enforcement in Tirana. Over 500 people have been arrested, of which 330 have been released, while around 120 police officers and 45 protesters have been injured, though many protester injuries may have been unrecorded.
This unrest poses the most significant challenge to Rama, who has led the country since 2013 and secured a fourth term in last year's elections.
The protests stem from months of largely peaceful demonstrations sparked by plans to construct a luxury resort on Albania's stunning southern coastline, backed by investors including Jared Kushner, Donald Trump's son-in-law. Local villagers accused the developer of wrongfully obtaining their land; prosecutors were investigating the land seller for potential drug trafficking, a claim his lawyer denied. No evidence linking Kushner to the dispute has been found.
Rama's administration has been plagued by corruption scandals, and Albania is known as a hub for money laundering from drug and arms trafficking, complicating its EU accession attempts. Rama has denied any wrongdoing and insisted on Saturday that his government respects the students' right to protest while emphasizing his commitment to protecting citizens, ensuring justice, and advancing Albania's EU membership by 2030. Albania, along with Montenegro, is at the forefront of the EU accession process in the Balkans.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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