Albanian police used water cannon and tear gas to disperse protesters outside the education ministry on October 20, as student-led demonstrations against Prime Minister Edi Rama's government escalated and teachers announced a nationwide university boycott.
The protests, which follow the peaceful "Flamingo Revolution" protests earlier this year, have widened from student grievances to a broader confrontation involving university staff and law enforcement.
Protesters moved to the ministry after gathering outside the prime minister's office earlier in the day, according to local media reports. Some threw stones at the ministry building and attempted to enter, prompting a heavier police deployment.
Teachers joined the demonstrations, with union leader Sander Kovaçi announcing that classes at all higher education institutions would be suspended from October 21 following a decision by the union leadership, reported Euronews Albania.
The latest unrest follows clashes during the October 19 rally, after which police arrested 33 people and initiated criminal proceedings against another 41, the Tirana police directorate said. Seven police officers were injured.
Police accused those detained or prosecuted of throwing stones and other objects at officers and police vehicles, and damaging rubbish bins and road signs. The allegations have not been independently verified.
Authorities said 271 people had been arrested during seven days of protests in Tirana, including 51 with previous criminal records for offences ranging from theft and drug-related crimes to violence against police.
The demonstrations have continued to put pressure on Rama's government, with tensions rising as students and educators join forces. Earlier on October 20, protesters overturned chairs that Rama had placed outside his office as a symbolic invitation to dialogue.