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Student Protests Persist in Albania Amid Police Conduct Review

Tirana:Student protests in Albania have entered their fifth day, with incidents of arrests and property damage reported in Durres. The country's police watchdog is now reviewing potential violations by officers.

According to Anadolu Agency – English, students in Tirana were expected to gather at their universities before marching to the Education Ministry for a rally scheduled for 11 am local time. Organizers have called for a nationwide mobilization involving university and high school students, as well as other citizens and members of the Albanian diaspora.

In anticipation of the protests, police deployed water cannons near the ministry and prepared to establish a security cordon. The situation remained calm initially, but tensions rose as protesters removed sidewalk railings and placed them across the road.

In Durres, high school students gathered outside the municipal building for the third consecutive day, throwing stones, setting garbage bins on fire, and damaging railings. Protesters later broke windows at an Albanian Post building while marching toward the police station, prompting police intervention and arrests, although no specific figures were provided.

In Korca, predominantly high school students demonstrated for a third straight day, voicing frustration over limited future opportunities in Albania and criticizing what they perceive as a lack of justice.

The Police Supervision Agency is investigating alleged legal violations by State Police personnel during the protests in Tirana and other cities. Agency staff are documenting incidents and collecting footage from media outlets and social networks to determine the circumstances and assign responsibility. Cases involving suspected criminal offenses are being handled under the guidance of prosecutors in Tirana.