Overview
- Violent street clashes in central Tirana intensified over consecutive days this week, with protesters and masked groups using Molotov cocktails to burn parts of the Ministry of Education and attacking other government offices.
- Hospitals treated 89 people in Tirana, including 61 police officers, while police reported dozens of arrests and said 14 officers were injured, with official tallies varying across sources.
- Authorities deployed thousands of riot police and used water cannon and tear gas to disperse crowds, and the government has refused calls to resign while blaming violent elements and political opponents for the unrest.
- The EU delegation in Albania urged a proportionate police response and expressed concern about the violent escalation, and the opposition has backed protest demands while calling for an interim government and early elections.
- The demonstrations began in late May to oppose a luxury coastal project linked to Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump and have widened into a broad movement led by students demanding cheaper tuition, better university conditions and action on corruption, which threatens daily life for young people and could affect Albania's EU timeline.