Arrested by police after speaking to the media, young man recounts police violence: Officer told me, “If you’ve got the nerve, come out and protest again!”…

The protester, who was arrested by the State Police a few days ago after giving an interview to the media in which he criticized the government and explained why he was taking part in the protest, has spoken out amid the debate between students and opposition representatives.

He said that citizens who have joined the students were not protesting as representatives of political parties, but in support of the students’ cause.

“People have come out to support me. I have nothing against people showing their support. They haven’t come out as a party or as MPs, but as members of the public. If you think about it deeply, everyone here has children,” he said.

The protester recalled his arrest, saying he was detained after speaking to News24. He added that police officers assaulted and threatened him while taking him to the police station.

“They beat me on the way to the police station and threatened me. They told me, ‘We’ll throw you out of the van.’ The police officer said to me, ‘If you’ve got the nerve, come out and protest again.’ They took me inside, beat me and cursed at me,” he said, urging citizens and students to join the protest.

Protester: People are contradicting one another. People have come out to support me. I have nothing against people showing their support. They haven’t come out as a party or as MPs, but as members of the public. If you think about it deeply, everyone here has children. This man has been out here with me every day. His hands are bloody and burned from protecting me.

They arrested me. I even went on News24 and gave an interview. They arrested me over two words. What do you make of that?

In my view, these people are protesters too. If we’re talking about people being singled out, other MPs were there too, including Agron Shehaj. They weren’t the only ones who came. Do you think Agron is really working that hard for the students? He wants attention too, like everyone else.

They haven’t come out to say, “Vote for the DP, the SP or the Mundësia Party.” In my view, they came out to support the students.

This isn’t normal. They beat me on the way to the police station and threatened me. They told me, “We’ll throw you out of the van.” The police officer said to me, “If you’ve got the nerve, come out and protest again.”

They took me inside, beat me and cursed at me. Now they’re contradicting one another. Come together and stand your ground, outside the Ministry of Education and the Prime Minister’s Office. Edi Rama won’t be brought down at the ministry; he’ll be brought down at the Prime Minister’s Office.