Over 72 hours in cells: Tirana court frees protesters arrested after clashes with police outside the Prime Minister’s Office, rules arrests unlawful

The Tirana court has released, after 72 hours in detention, the 14 activists and citizens arrested following clashes with police outside the Prime Minister’s Office during the September 1 protest, when protesters surrounded the building.

The protesters were suspected of the offenses of “organizing and participating in illegal gatherings and demonstrations,” “resisting a public order police officer,” “disturbing the public peace,” and “obstructing the movement of transport vehicles.”

At today’s hearing, the Tirana court deemed the protesters’ arrests in flagrante unlawful and ruled that the protest had been lawful, ordering their immediate release.

In this case, the prosecution’s request to impose an “obligation to report” on the 14 protesters, as well as the measure barring them from participating in gatherings or assemblies and prohibiting them from staying in the area in front of Police Commissariates 1, 2 and 3, was deemed unjustified and rejected by the court.

The arrested protesters were Dritan Goxhaj, Junik Matoshi, Edison Lika, Erlind Almeta, Sokol Bushi, Lulzim Gjini, Valtion Shameti, Florian Manarkolli, Desiderjo Alimuçaj, Bora Mitrovica, Arvina Lleshi, Ylli Brahaj, Arben Kola and Aumiraldi Dalliu.

They were arrested on the evening of September 1 after surrounding the government building as soon as they learned that the prime minister was inside.

After several hours of resistance by the protesters, the prime minister left the office under tight security measures.