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Students join months of protests against Prime Minister Edi Rama's government, the riots and arrests in Tirana, and the competing accounts of who is behind the violence.
Newest first. Updated as news breaks.
Police say 152 people have been arrested over three days and 324 are under investigation, and that 71 officers…
Thousands march in Tirana on a fourth day, with clashes outside the Education Ministry. Protests are reported…
Rama says the unrest is "not a student phenomenon" and blames "foreign hands"; he also accuses the opposition…
Protests in Tirana become a riot again, with windows smashed and a bank raided. Police say 160 people were…
Rama tells Reuters that governments change through elections, not revolution, and says he will not resign…
President Bajram Begaj condemns the violence and calls for restraint from young people and proportionate force…
Protests against Prime Minister Edi Rama's government began in late May 2026 over a luxury resort planned near the village of Zvërnec, beside a protected wetland on the southern coast. The project is backed by Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of US President Donald Trump. The movement, known as the Flamingo Revolution, held mostly peaceful rallies for months and widened into calls for Rama to resign over alleged corruption.
In mid-October university students joined, protesting fees, run-down universities and dormitories, and poor job prospects. From October 13 protests in Tirana turned violent: the Education Ministry, the prime minister's office, other government buildings and bank branches were set on fire, and police used tear gas and water cannon. Protests spread to Elbasan, Shkodër, Korçë and Lezhë. Police say 152 people were arrested over three days and 71 officers injured; no total for injured protesters has been published.
Rama says governments change through elections and will not resign. He blames "foreign hands" and the opposition for the violence; opposition leader Sali Berisha rejects that and backs the call for Rama to go. Students say months of peaceful protest were ignored. President Bajram Begaj and the EU delegation have urged calm and a proportionate police response.
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Prime Minister Edi Rama
Rama speaking from the fire-damaged College of Europe building near his office, accusing the opposition of using masked people and rejecting calls to resign.
How we checked: Reported by DW. Date and place are given in the report.
Sources: DW (via UA.NEWS)
Deputy Prime Minister Albana Kociu
A statement that protest is a legitimate right but cannot be used as an excuse for violence, urging people to distance themselves from vandalism.
How we checked: Reported by Al Jazeera and Reuters. Text post; date known.
Sources: Al Jazeera · Reuters (via Cyprus Mail)
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February
Protests called by opposition Democratic Party leader Sali Berisha turn violent in Tirana; at least 13 people are arrested. Protesters want Rama and Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku, whom prosecutors accuse of interfering in public contracts, to leave office. Rama later dismissed Balluku, Reuters reports.
Sources: Al Jazeera · Reuters (via MarketScreener)
Late May to early October
In late May, demonstrators try to block construction of a resort near Zvërnec, beside the protected Vjosa wetlands. Protests soon spread to Tirana and other cities, and the movement becomes known as the Flamingo Revolution.
Sources: OSW Centre for Eastern Studies · OBC Transeuropa · DW (via UA.NEWS)
Thousands march in Tirana in the largest protest yet against the Kushner-backed resort, chanting outside Rama's office. Rama tells Reuters the project will go ahead and be completed responsibly; protesters say it lacks transparency.
Sources: Reuters (via MarketScreener)
Rama calls the protests genuine but says foreign groups with anti-American and antisemitic views are trying to use them against Albania's interests.
Sources: Gazeta Tema
October 13 to 14
Students protesting university conditions, fees and job prospects rally outside the Education Ministry in Tirana. The protest turns violent: stones are thrown, fires are set at the city hall and on Durrës Street, and police use tear gas and water cannon.
Sources: OBC Transeuropa · Euronews · OCCRP
Police say protesters broke into the Education Ministry overnight and set a fire inside. Police report 16 arrests, 49 people facing criminal proceedings and six officers injured.
Sources: Al Jazeera · Euronews · OCCRP
Riots last more than eight hours. The prime minister's office, ministry buildings and bank branches are set alight, and protesters build barricades. The Albanian media report protests at universities in Elbasan and Shkodër.
Sources: AP (via ABC News) · Reuters (via Cyprus Mail) · Al Jazeera
Authorities say 23 police officers and six other people are being treated for injuries and 35 people have been detained, AP reports.
Sources: AP (via ABC News)
President Bajram Begaj condemns the violence and calls for restraint from young people and proportionate force from police. Deputy Prime Minister Albana Kociu says protest is a right but no excuse for violence. The EU delegation expresses concern and calls for a proportionate response.
Sources: AP (via ABC News) · OCCRP · Al Jazeera · Reuters (via Cyprus Mail)
From October 15
Rama tells Reuters that governments change through elections, not revolution, and says he will not resign, citing his mandate to complete EU membership talks. He says he is open to discussing education costs.
Sources: Al Jazeera · Al Jazeera · DW (via UA.NEWS)
Protests in Tirana become a riot again, with windows smashed and a bank raided. Police say 160 people were detained that evening over alleged violent acts.
Sources: Reuters (via Business Recorder) · Al Jazeera
Rama says the unrest is "not a student phenomenon" and blames "foreign hands"; he also accuses the opposition of using masked people. Opposition leader Sali Berisha rejects claims that the opposition is behind the violence and backs the call for Rama to resign.
Sources: Al Jazeera · DW (via UA.NEWS)
Thousands march in Tirana on a fourth day, with clashes outside the Education Ministry. Protests are reported in Lezhë, Elbasan, Shkodër and Korçë. Rama writes on Facebook that the government will not bow to violence.
Sources: Reuters (via Business Recorder) · Al Jazeera
Police say 152 people have been arrested over three days and 324 are under investigation, and that 71 officers have been injured. Students are boycotting classes and say they will not negotiate except on Rama's resignation.
Sources: DW (via UA.NEWS)
Whether protests and the class boycott continue over the weekend, and whether talks between students and the government begin. Still being checked.
Sources: DW (via UA.NEWS)
No entries with this label.
Both sides, with sources.
One account
Rama says the unrest is not a student phenomenon and blames foreign hands and the opposition, which he says is using masked people. Police urge peaceful protesters to distance themselves from masked agitators.
Sources: Al Jazeera · DW (via UA.NEWS) · OCCRP
Other account
Students say they are protesting university conditions, costs and job prospects after months of ignored peaceful protest. Opposition leader Sali Berisha denies the opposition is involved in the violence.
Sources: Reuters (via Cyprus Mail) · Reuters (via Business Recorder) · DW (via UA.NEWS)
Status: Open. Neither side has published evidence; police investigations are under way.
One account
Police say anyone who uses violence, burns property or attacks officers bears individual responsibility, and report officers injured by stones, hard objects and explosives.
Sources: Reuters (via Cyprus Mail) · OCCRP
Other account
Organisers allege excessive police violence against protesters and journalists. A trauma hospital official attributed a 19-year-old's broken leg to police violence, and the Association of Albanian Journalists condemned police obstruction of reporters.
Sources: AP (via ABC News) · OBC Transeuropa
Status: Five officers suspended and an investigation opened by the Police Supervision Agency with prosecutors (OBCT, October 13).
One account
Rama says the project will go ahead and be completed responsibly; OSW, a Polish research centre, reports that he says it will create 10,000 jobs.
Sources: Reuters (via MarketScreener) · OSW Centre for Eastern Studies
Other account
Protesters say the plans lack transparency and threaten a protected wetland home to flamingos and other wildlife.
Sources: Reuters (via MarketScreener) · OSW Centre for Eastern Studies
Status: Planning permission has been granted but full details have not been published, according to OSW. Cost estimates differ: about €5 billion (Reuters) and at least $1.4 billion (OSW). Reuters found no evidence of wrongdoing by Kushner.
Arrests, bans, investigations and court cases.
| Date | Action | By | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 11 | At least 13 arrested at an opposition protest in Tirana | Police | Reported |
| Oct 13 | Five officers suspended; investigation opened into police conduct | State Police; Police Supervision Agency with prosecutors | Reported |
| Oct 14 | 16 arrested and 49 facing criminal proceedings after the Education Ministry fire | State Police | Confirmed |
| Oct 14 | 35 people detained | Authorities (figure via AP) | Reported |
| Oct 15 | 160 people detained over alleged violent acts | Police (figure via Al Jazeera) | Reported |
| Oct 16 | 152 arrested over three days; 324 under investigation | Police (figure via DW) | Reported |
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