Edi Rama attributes Albania’s escalating unrest to a ‘hybrid war’

Published on 20/10/2026 – 12:48 GMT+2

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said on Tuesday that a “hybrid war” was fueling unrest across the country, following a week of violent anti-government demonstrations in Tirana.

Demonstrators have repeatedly clashed with police as months of protests intensify, driven by demands for improved conditions at universities, anger over corruption and renewed calls for Rama to resign.

During demonstrations attended by thousands, police have regularly used water cannon, tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse crowds that targeted government buildings and smashed shops in several parts of the capital.

Protesters have thrown stones, petrol bombs and fireworks at police.

Around 300 people have been injured in the clashes, including more than 50 police officers, according to the authorities.

Rama again blamed “foreign actors” for the violence, reiterating earlier allegations that Russia and Iran had been promoting online misinformation.

“This has now been recognised and is becoming a major issue across Europe,” he said in a statement broadcast live during a visit to the education ministry.

“It is a hybrid war that gains traction precisely because it is rooted in genuine grievances, not mere fantasy,” Rama added, citing rising living costs, housing unaffordability and concerns about the future.

He also raised the possibility of banning social media use for children under 16 and announced plans to review the age of criminal responsibility.

Since the protests began, high school students have joined their university counterparts at demonstrations, while police and government authorities have repeatedly condemned the involvement of minors in the violence.

On Tuesday morning, hundreds of university professors marched in solidarity with the demonstrators to protest alleged police violence against students, according to an AFP reporter.

Carrying a banner that read “Stop violence against students,” the marchers called for Rama to resign.

The week-long demonstrations have caused significant damage to several government buildings, including the education ministry, which remains a focal point of the protests.

The anti-government movement in the Balkan country began over a controversial resort development in an environmentally protected area linked to US President Donald Trump’s family.

However, opposition to the project has developed into a broader anti-corruption campaign, accompanied by continued demands that Rama step down.

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