Berisha calls for solidarity with students and high school students: Tirana has not seen violence like this even in the 1990s

Sali Berisha has called on citizens, parents, the diaspora and businesses to join students and high school students at a protest planned for Saturday in Tirana.

In a statement, he accused police of using violence against young people and urged citizens to attend the gathering. Berisha said that, as a parent, grandfather, citizen, former president and former prime minister, he considers tomorrow a particularly important day for young people across the country.

According to Berisha, since the 13th, police have used violence against students and high school students in the capital’s streets and squares, mistreating, torturing, detaining and arresting hundreds of people. He claimed that minors, girls and older citizens had been taken to police stations.

Berisha cited the use of tear gas, stun grenades, expired gas, spray and bear-repellent devices, rubber batons and iron bars. He also accused police of breaking bones and causing head injuries with gas canisters and rubber bullets, saying that Tirana had not seen such brutality even during the 1990s.

He said students and high school students need support for their protest more than ever and announced that thousands of men and women, boys and girls from across Europe would travel to Tirana. Berisha invited Democrats, citizens, parents and businesses across the country to stand in solidarity with the young people.