Unrest in Albanian capital as anti-government protesters hurl fireworks, Molotov cocktails at police

Описание: (20 Feb 2026)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tirana - 20 February 2026
++NIGHT SHOTS++
1. Water cannon deploying water, tear gas, protesters, fire
2. Protesters launching fireworks during protest
3. Various of water cannon, fire, explosion, police attempting to put out fire
4. Explosion, protesters
5. Protester throwing firebomb at police water cannon
6. Various of police using water cannon to disperse crowd, explosion
7. Mid of injured police being carried away
8. Wide of fire bomb being thrown at riot police
9. Close of riot police with tear gas in backgroud
10. Protesters
STORYLINE:
Another opposition protest turned into unrest in the Albanian capital on Friday, as demonstrators clashed with police in front of the government and parliament buildings.

Police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse the crowd, while masked protesters hurled Molotov cocktails and fireworks.

The opposition Democratic Party of Albania has launched a series of anti-government protests aimed at forcing the government’s resignation, accusing it of corruption.

“Edi Rama, with his policies of theft and electoral fraud, is destroying Albania and driving Albanians out of the country,” said Sali Berisha leader of the democrats.

Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku of the ruling Socialist Party has been indicted by prosecutors on corruption charges related to construction contracts.

Prosecutors’ request to lift her immunity was not approved, as lawmakers from Prime Minister Edi Rama’s party must vote on the measure in parliament.

Rama called the prosecutors’ request an “unprecedented and unheard-of instrument in the democratic world,” by submitting a draft law to parliament aiming to prevent courts from suspending ministers.

According to the Tirana police’s official statement, about 1,600 police officers have been deployed on the ground.

AP video by Florent Bajrami and Erion Xhabafti

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