Fatmir Xhafaj

Albania protester threw a stone against police in this photo of 10 December 2020 in Tirana. Photo: LSA

Prime Minister Edi Rama dismissed suggestions that the fatal shooting of the unarmed citizen was a result of a police culture of violence and called the event "an isolated one" - while announcing that Interior Minister Sander Lleshaj had offered his resignation.

Albania's Prime Minister Edi Rama confirmed the resignation of Albanian Interior Minister Fatmir Xhafaj on Saturday, naming his security advisor Aleksander Lleshi, a former General in the Albanian Army, as the new nominee for the post.

Thousands of Albanian opposition supporters rallied in the capital Tirana on May 26 calling for the resignation of interior minister Fatmir Xhafaj, whose brother has been convicted of drug trafficking.

Thousands of Albanians joined the anti-government protests held on Saturday in Albanian capital of Tirana, demanding resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama and Interior Minister Fatmir Xhafaj over alleged role in drug smuggling.

Protesters threw stones at the main government buildings. According to the police, 11 people were injured, mostly police officers.

Albania's opposition Democratic Party and the Socialist Movement for Integration, LSI, have finalised their preparations for a major protest on Saturday in Tirana, demanding the resignation of the Interior Minister Fatmir Xhafaj, who they accuse of engaging in drug smuggling.

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has responded to the week-long attack by the opposition Democratic Party, which has claimed that Interior Minister Fatmir Xhafaj's brother was involved in drug trafficking, while opposition protesters continued to call for the minister's resignation.

Albania's opposition Democratic Party on Monday followed up its week-long attack on Interior Minister Fatmir Xhafaj by claiming that his brother, Agron Xhafaj, who has a previous conviction in Italy for drug dealing, is still in the same business.

Albanian police organisations called on Edi Rama's government to vet the state police next year in a fair way, and not let it serve as a showcase for his new Interior Minister.

Interior Minister Fatmir Xhafaj has issued a directive announcing the start of the vetting process in 2018, once the relevant legislation is adopted this year.

Prime Minister Edi Rama and Lulzim Basha, leader of the opposition Democratic Party [PD], failed to find an agreement for judicial reform after three hours of negotiations on Monday evening.

Rama, who has led the Socialist Party since 2005, has expressed his intention to partially remove the 'one member, one vote' selection principle for party officials.