Police exceeded their authority” / Violence at protests and officers suspended, Minister Demo says: Those who bring chaos will face the law

Interior Minister Ervin Demo has responded to incidents of violence by State Police officers during protests in recent days, saying that two cases of officers exceeding their authority have been identified. He announced that the two officers have been suspended from duty following checks requested of the relevant departments.

In a statement, Demo said he learned of the incidents through footage published in the media and on social media. He thanked the Director General of the State Police for suspending the two officers.

The minister stressed that the State Police has faced a difficult situation over the past three days.

Nevertheless, Demo emphasized that the response of law enforcement must be proportionate and remain within the limits set by law. He said any misconduct identified among police officers would be investigated and punished appropriately.

“The law will apply equally to everyone, without exception: both to those who, politically motivated, resort to violence with the aim of creating chaos in Albania, and to officers in uniform who exceed their legal authority,” the minister said.

He added that the professionalism of the State Police is measured not only by its ability to maintain order and public safety, but also by its respect for the law and the dignity of every citizen.

In his statement, Demo also addressed the parents of minors taking part in protests, asking them to talk to their children and not allow them to become involved in acts of violence.

Finally, the minister assured citizens that public order and safety would be maintained. He reiterated that every violation of the law, including those committed by police officers, would be dealt with under legal procedures.

Interior Minister Ervin Demo said that over the past three days, the State Police had faced a difficult situation in which shadowy forces had used militants, mercenaries and, worst of all, minors, inciting them to commit acts of extreme violence against the police, institutions, businesses and private property.

Demo said he had insisted throughout that the police response be proportionate and never exceed the limits set by law, just as he had called for the investigation and punishment of everyone who committed violence or broke the law.

The minister emphasized that the professionalism of the State Police is measured not only by its ability to maintain order and public safety, but also by its respect for the law and the dignity of every citizen. He said he had been, and remained, very clear on this point: every identified violation would be dealt with appropriately under the law.

Demo also appealed to the parents of minors taking part in violent acts, asking them to speak with their children and not allow them to be used by destructive political forces or raised to believe that violence is the way to succeed.

Finally, the minister assured all Albanian citizens that the rule of law would prevail and that public safety and order would be maintained.