Albanian Police Investigate Violent Clash Outside Parliament

Opposition protester attacking police in Tirana on 26 February 2019. Photo: Gjergj Erebara/BIRN

Protesters used stones and bottles of water against police who responded with tear gas.

Police on Wednesday said they were still looking for 12 others involved in the violent clash.

Due to gas inhalation, two police officers and eight protesters received medical assistance, according to the police.

The opposition parties called the protest after the speaker of parliament, Gramoz Ruci, summoned a plenary session on Wednesday, instead of Thursday, as planned, apparently to wrong-foot the opposition.

The opposition parties had called for a weekly protest to block the work of parliament after their MPs relinquished their mandates.

Despite the sudden change of schedule, they managed to summon some of their supporters at short notice.

After the plenary session ended, ruling Socialist Party MPs used a secondary gate to exit the building unmolested by the group of protesters.

The OSCE has condemned the use of violence by all sides. "We condemn again the political inciting of violence and call for restrain and responsibility," it said in a statement.

Police officers wearing gas masks observe the scene under a cloud of tear gas during an opposition protest in Tirana on 26 February 2019: Photo: Gjergj Erebara/BIRNOpposition supporters block the entrance of parliament during a protest in Tirana on 26 February 2019. Photo: Gjergj Erebara/BIRNProtesters run to escape tear gas cloud during a protest organized by opposition in Tirana on 26 February 2019. Photo: Ivana Dervishi/BIRNProtesters run to escape tear gas cloud during a protest organized by the opposition in Tirana on 26 February 2019. Photo: Ivana Dervishi/BIRN Post Views: 4