Attack with Molotov cocktails on government building by opposition in Albania

Supporters of the opposition in Albania, protesting the house arrest of former Prime Minister and leader of the main opposition Democratic Party, Sali Berisha, attacked the government building in the capital Tirana with Molotov cocktails and stones.

Following the house arrest of former Prime Minister and leader of the main opposition Democratic Party, Sali Berisha, supporters once again took to the streets in Albania. Thousands of people gathered in front of the government building in the capital Tirana, while Prime Minister Edi Rama’s office was surrounded by security. Accusing government officials of involvement in organized crime and corruption, the opposition attacked the government building with Molotov cocktails and stones. Demonstrators, who chose yesterday to protest in order to commemorate February 20, when the statue of the communist leader Enver Hoxha, who ruled the country for a long time, was toppled, shouted slogans against the government. Addressing the protesters via video conference from house arrest, main opposition leader Berisha said, “Edi Rama wants to hold all power like other dictators and wants an Albania without opposition.”
Syle Xhebexhia, an activist who said he traveled 110 km to attend the demonstration, said, “We are here today to overthrow the Rama government, which is worse than the Enver Hoxha regime.”

The main opposition leader accused of corruption
Berisha, who served as president from 1992 to 1997 and as prime minister from 2005 to 2013 in Albania, was placed under house arrest at the end of December as part of a corruption case related to his time in office. Berisha, 79, who is also banned from leaving the country, is accused of favoritism in privatizing state land during the period from 2005 to 2013 by using his influence to benefit his son-in-law. Berisha, who denies the accusations against him, accuses Edi Rama of carrying out a political attack to silence the opposition.
On the other hand, the Democratic Party, which is the main opposition, accuses Prime Minister Rama of favoritism and corruption, claiming that it has caused a large part of the country’s youth to migrate to European countries for better living conditions.