The Voice of the Diaspora in the 44th Protest: Civic Revolt and Media Silence

At the next gathering in front of the Prime Ministry building, an Albanian woman who has lived abroad for two decades climbed the steps to read a strong message. She emphasized that although she has never exercised her right to vote in her homeland, it is essential that the authorities obey the people’s will and protect the natural resources.

According to her, the exasperation among Albanians has reached a critical point and a large number of those living abroad express the desire to return to their homeland.

Another strong point of her speech was the denunciation of the scant media coverage of the protests. She claimed that throughout all these 44 days, only two news outlets have been present to report. “The presence of only two media here clearly shows which ones are bought and which act as servants of the authorities,” she stated.

Further, she recounted her broken connection with Albania, mentioning her 15-year-old nephew who has never been able to enjoy life here, as well as her elderly mother who lives alone. “The people have had enough. The diaspora Albanians want to return, because we have nurtured the hope for a better future. I want us to save the Vjosa and Narta lagoons and to repeal the harmful law,” she concluded.