Albanian protesters in Vienna, organized under the name Flamingo Revolution Austria, have sent an open letter to Austria’s highest institutions and the European Union in support of the student protests sweeping Tirana and other cities across Albania.
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Albanians in Austria, who have protested in Vienna more than 20 times since the movement began, say they will continue to support the students and citizens protesting in Albania. In their letter, they urge international partners not to remain neutral and to condemn violence against young people taking part in protests.
Below, we publish the full statement, translated into Albanian:
Albanians in Austria send open letter to Austrian and EU institutions: “The time for silence is over, Edi Rama must resign!”
Open letter to Albania’s friends and supporters
Dear international partners, intellectuals, decision-makers and stakeholders,
Albania is facing a defining moment. What began as a protest against the unclear Sazan–Nartë development project has grown into a broader civic movement, both in Albania and abroad, demanding accountability, democracy and the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama.
The movement is led mainly by young families, young people and students who are no longer willing to accept corruption, arrogance and the concentration of power. For more than a decade, Albania’s citizens have endured scandals involving some of the country’s highest-ranking officials, including former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure Belinda Balluku, as well as the former director of SHISH (the State Intelligence Service, responsible for intelligence and national security), while public trust in state institutions continues to erode.
Even more alarming is the day-by-day increase in violence and intimidation against protesting students and young people. This clear attempt to silence young voices by force must be condemned.
The international community must not lose sight of what truly matters. Shifting attention from democratic rights to incidents during protests risks being interpreted as acceptance of democratic decline, corruption and rising violence. Bowing to a regime at the expense of democratic principles undermines those very values. The citizens of Albania deserve the same democratic standards that Europe stands for.
Every day that passes without a clear and principled stance sends the wrong message to citizens who are stepping out of their comfort zones because they still believe in democracy and the values Europe represents. This is no time for neutrality. It is a time for courage, principles and action.
The Albanian people are calling for democracy, accountability and dignity. Their voice deserves to be heard. Europe must make its position entirely clear and show through its actions which side it is on: the side of democratic values and the citizens who defend them, or the side of a repressive government that has irrevocably lost the trust of its citizens. The overwhelming majority of Albanians support the EU and want the Albanian government to uphold its commitment to European values.
The time for silence is over. The time for accountability is now. Those who support Albania have a responsibility to speak out and send a clear message: Edi Rama must resign!
On behalf of Flamingo Revolution Austria
