Albania protests near parliament spark Italian NGOs' warning over police force

Recent demonstrations outside the Albanian parliament in Tirana, initially organized to protect a valued natural area, escalated into broader protests over government transparency, environmental protection, social justice and institutional independence. Police responded with arrests, tear‑gas and water‑cannon deployment.

The Associazione delle Organizzazioni Italiane di Cooperazione e Solidarietà Internazionale (AOI) condemned the violence, urging that public order be maintained with legality, proportionality and respect for fundamental rights. AOI president Giovanni Lattanzi said the organization is monitoring the situation, listening to civil‑society voices and stressing that the right to peaceful assembly is a cornerstone of a mature democracy and of Albania’s EU accession path.