Residents of the “5 Maji” neighborhood in Tirana clashed again with the police in the early hours of this morning as demolitions continue in the Kombinat area.
The police used teargas to disperse the protestors and detained three of them.
The Municipality of Tirana plans to demolish some 400 homes in the Kombinat area, arguing they have been damaged irreparably by the 26 November 2019 earthquake.
Works began in late January and more buildings are slated for demolition over the upcoming weeks.
Homeowners have been protesting the decision for months, claiming they never signed any deals with the government and have yet to be compensated.
Speaking to Euronews Albania, some residents said they were kicked out forcefully by the police and have now been left homeless.
While the Albanian government’s official announcement states it will demolish buildings damaged by the 2019 earthquake, plans to develop the area date back to 2018.
In 2018, the government announced it would demolish at least 67 buildings to pave the way for a Municipality project, according to the TR2030 master plan. In place of the demolished buildings, new homes, offices, and commercial premises will be constructed with a price tag of €61.1 million.
Read More: Residents of Tirana Neighbourhood Rise Up Against Demolitions of Their Homes
