Protesters in Tirana, Albania, faced detention on Tuesday after throwing eggs at the vehicles of lawmakers. This demonstration coincides with the initiation of an investigation into the police’s aggressive behavior by a human rights advocate, as reported by AFP.
Dozens of protesters gathered outside the Albanian parliament in the morning, demanding the repeal of a law that permits luxury hotel construction in protected natural areas. This law has raised concerns as it may facilitate a tourism complex project associated with the Trump family, which has sparked outrage among segments of the Albanian population in recent weeks.
The planned resort in a protected natural area, known for its flamingo nesting sites, has fueled consistent protests that have been ongoing since May 30. Protesters are calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama’s socialist government.
During the demonstration, protesters hurled dozens of eggs at lawmakers’ cars and attempted to breach the police cordon that separated them from the vehicles. Video footage shared on social media showed at least two demonstrators being forcefully subdued by several police officers.
Endri Şabani, the Albanian human rights advocate, stated in a televised interview that he has launched an investigation into police behavior. He emphasized that the right to protest is constitutionally protected and criticized the police’s disproportionate response towards the demonstrators.
By midday, dozens of protesters had gathered outside the police headquarters in Tirana, demanding the release of those who had been detained. At least two individuals were released amidst cheers from the crowd just before 5 PM local time.
