An anti-corruption rally in Tirana ended in clashes with police.
Protesters hurled Molotov cocktails and launched fireworks at the prime minister’s office in the Albanian capital of Tirana during an anti-corruption rally on Friday.
The protesters, led by members of the main opposition force, the Democratic Party, gathered in the small Balkan country’s capital, demanding the resignation of left-wing Prime Minister Edi Rama.
A group of rioters threw incendiary projectiles at the government headquarters and police officers, who responded with tear gas and water cannons. According to local media, the clashes lasted for several hours.
Explosives being thrown at government buildings have become a regular occurrence at protests in Tirana over the past few years. Tonight, protesters were dispersed quickly with water cannons after the opening salvo. pic.twitter.com/L949bFutJB
— 3JANE TV (@3janetv) February 20, 2026
Speaking at the rally, Democratic Party leader and former Prime Minister Sali Berisha denounced Rama as a “political corpse.”
“We will save Albania from Edi Rama, who has plunged the country into poverty and corruption,” Berisha told the crowd, as cited by AFP. He blamed the government for “escalation” and accused the police of firing tear gas at the courtyard of his party’s office.
Interior Minister Albana Kociu accused the opposition leaders of “incitement to violence” and urged them to call on their supporters to refrain from action that could “endanger citizens, police, and journalists.”
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