Activists and citizens gathered in Tirana this Wednesday to protest as European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was in the capital for a meeting with Prime Minister Edi Rama.
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Police established a security perimeter and did not allow the protesters to approach the Prime Minister’s Office. Tensions were also reported during clashes between citizens and police officers.
Activist Sidorela Vatnikaj objected to the restrictions on the protest and said their message to Ursula von der Leyen was that the European Union should not support what she described as autocratic leaders.
“Rama does not represent us. We have been protesting for 122 days, saying that Rama and the government do not represent us. We will join the EU only if we remove the autocrats. We are here to tell von der Leyen that she should not support autocrats,” Vatnikaj declared.
Speaking about the large number of security forces and the protesters’ inability to approach the government headquarters, she described the situation as resembling a prison.
“They are turning Albania into 313,” the activist said, referring to Tirana’s prison.
