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Lea Ypi shares the Albanian diaspora’s open letter: Support for the protests! They demand transparency and accountability from the government

A group of Albanian associations and organizations based in the United Kingdom has sent an open letter to the Government and Parliament of Albania, expressing support for the protests that have continued for more than a month in the country and condemning police violence against protesters.

Their open letter was also backed by writer Lea Ypi, who shared it on social media. The letter addressed to the government stresses that the daily protests are revealing the essence of an increasingly aware and better organized civil society, and that they are a pure expression of democracy in action and a constitutional right.

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“The daily peaceful protests are revealing the essence of an increasingly aware and organized civil society. Thousands of Albanian citizens, including young people, parents, professionals and researchers, have taken to the streets to protect the country’s natural resources, public spaces and the right to be heard by state institutions.

These protests are the purest expression of democracy in action, the constitutional and democratic right of every citizen to express an opinion and demand accountability from state institutions. It is precisely for this reason that we strongly condemn every form of violence, intimidation or repression against peaceful protesters,” the letter says.

The letter also lists four main demands addressed to the government: full transparency on laws, decisions and contracts related to the protection of the environment and natural resources; accountability for the sale or concession of state assets; protection of the public interest as a fundamental principle in economic development policies; and the start of a real and constructive dialogue with representatives of civil society and the protesters.

The letter was signed by 11 Albanian organizations operating in the United Kingdom: UKAP Foundation, Kosovar Albanian Youth Against Violence, British Albanian Culture & Arts Association, Edinburgh University Albanian Society, Cambridge Uni Albanian Society, LSE Albanian Society, Diasporas Speaking, UCL Albanian Society, Successful Mothers and Gjurmë Iliriane.

FULL LETTER:

Dear representatives of the Government and Parliament of Albania,

We, the Albanian associations and communities established and based in the United Kingdom, express our support for the civic protests in Albania and condemn police violence against peaceful protesters.

The daily peaceful protests are revealing the essence of an increasingly aware and organized civil society. Thousands of Albanian citizens, including young people, parents, professionals and researchers, have taken to the streets to protect the country’s natural resources, public spaces and the right to be heard by state institutions.

These protests are the purest expression of democracy in action, the constitutional and democratic right of every citizen to express an opinion and demand accountability from state institutions.

It is precisely for this reason that we strongly condemn every form of violence, intimidation or repression against peaceful protesters.

We call on the Albanian government to take into account the essential demands of the protest movements, which concern:

Full transparency regarding the laws, decisions and contracts affecting environmental and nature protection, including projects that impact protected areas, coastal lagoons and the country’s water ecosystems;

Accountability of public institutions regarding the sale or concession of state assets, ensuring that every such decision is subject to public scrutiny, prior consultation and parliamentary oversight;

Protection of the public interest as a fundamental and non-negotiable criterion in every economic development policy, rejecting models that prioritize narrow private interests over society’s collective goods;

Real and constructive dialogue with representatives of civil society and protest movements.

With respect and hope,

UKAP Foundation

Kosovar Albanian Youth Against Violence

British Albanian Culture & Arts Association

Edinburgh University Albanian Society

Albanian Book Lovers Culture Club

Cambridge Uni Albanian Society

LSE Albanian Society

Diasporas Speaking

UCL Albanian Society

Successful Mothers