Rama calls for calm following violent protests

 

TT-AFP

 

Published 17.16

 

Protests in the Albanian capital, Tirana, on Thursday. File photo. Photo: Hameraldi Agolli/AP/TT

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama is calling for calm following several days of violent anti-government protests—while simultaneously blaming the heightened tensions on "foreign forces."

Since Tuesday, large-scale student protests have been taking place on the streets of the Albanian capital, Tirana.

Thousands of students have demanded the Prime Minister’s resignation, citing high tuition fees and poor conditions at universities.

Police have clashed with demonstrators, deploying both water cannons and tear gas.

"We are not criminals. We just want a better life than our parents had, and we don’t want to leave Albania," 18-year-old Ledia told AFP.

In recent months, students have joined forces with various groups critical of the government in protests addressing a range of social issues. A construction project involving Jared Kushner—son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump—has sparked particular outrage.