An anti-government protest led by students demanding better educational conditions escalated into violent clashes between demonstrators and police in the Albanian capital.
Clashes continued for several hours into the late evening on Tuesday in Tirana as student protesters throwing stones and Molotov cocktails tussled with police who fired tear gas and deployed water cannon in an attempt to force them off the streets.
According to the State Police, 16 protesters were arrested and 49 others are being investigated. “Acts of violence witnessed in the capital for hours, including the damaging, destruction and burning of property, have no connection to the peaceful exercise of the right to protest and cannot be justified under any circumstances,” police said.
Albanian student protest outside the Ministry of Education on October 13, 2026. Photo: LSA
The Ministry of Health announced on Wednesday that six people were still receiving medical treatment at Tirana Hospital and 13 have been treated in total.
Photo: LSA
The head of the State Police ordered the suspension of four officers and the Chief of Public Order of a police station after a video was circulated showing a 19-year-old with a broken leg being roughly carried by police officers.
Photo: LSA
The demonstration was initially announced by the so-called “Flamingo Revolution” protesters, who called on students to join them.
Photo: LSA
The students gathered outside the Ministry of Education to voice their discontent over university conditions, the cost of studying and the cost of living. They also called for Prime Minister Edi Rama’s resignation – a key demand of the Flamingo Revolution protests, which started in June as environmental demonstrations but evolved into an anti-government movement.
Photo: LSA