Students from the Tirana Agricultural College have staged a mass protest in Tirana today over increasing prices of fuel and basis foodstuffs.
The protest started on campus where they boycotted classes before marching into the city, in the direction of the prime minister’s office. They shouted “down with the government”, “get up from your coffee” and “turn off your cars” as they went.
They stopped at the Ministry of Education where they are congregated, calling for action.
“We stopped here because our demands were not met. They have put a noose around our necks, increasing the price of urban, bread, energy. It is unaffordable. This is the ministry of education, of shame!” one man told the crowd.
Students in Korce also protested today, demanding a reduction in fuel prices and other products. They were joined by citizens who blocked the main roundabout at the entrance to the city.
One man in the crowd told the media he has a bakery but has been closed for three days because the price of flour is too high.
“If I was to open today, a loaf of bread would cost 140 lek (EUR 1.14)”, he said. The cost of bread is usually half that price.
There were clashes between citizens and the police as the former tried to break the police cordon. Police responded with force, removing several protestors from the scene.
Farmers have also joined the protest, complaining over the increase in the cost of fuel and fertilisers.
“We cannot sow and reap, you should reduce the taxes to the maximum because there is nothing else to do,” one told the media.
Meanwhile, police have announced they want to prosecute 125 people across the country following yesterday’s protests. Another 15 have been declared wanted. Arrests were made in Tirana, Durres, Lezhe and Shkodra, Mirdita, Bulqiza, and Korce.
Activists have called police intervention unwarranted and criticised the Ministry of the Interior for removing the badge numbers of officers so they cannot be arrested.
The Ombudsman said the police were arresting peaceful protestors and violating their right to protest. She described it as “disturbing”.
Police have justified the arrests by saying they were arrested as citizens blocked the road, disturbed public peace and did not obey police orders. They also said the protests were illegal gatherings.
