You are exploiting the protest,” Socialist MP tells analyst: We have taken measures

Socialist MP Aulona Bylykbashi, a guest this Thursday on Erla Mëhilli’s “Now” program on Euronews Albania, spoke about the latest developments concerning the student protest and the police response. She also responded to analyst Zekthi, who had stated that the protest was being exploited.

Bylykbashi compared the intervention of law enforcement forces in Albania with that of police in other European countries, such as France and Italy. According to her, official data show that the response of the Albanian police has been more restrained.

“Since you followed it, did you also see the protests in France and Italy in recent days and the way the police responded there?

Ms. Erla, did you see the cases in which a police officer was struck and knocked down by a group of protesters? It was very ugly that children were used in that protest, because you know very well that if the state police are attacked with Molotov cocktails, they will respond. When there are minors in the crowd, they too become part of the attack.

In recent days, the state police have been treated in an uncivilized manner. It is an institution that guarantees security and constitutional order in this country. It is important to say this, because this concerns our shared life in Albania, and we must not burden it.

At the same time, measures have been taken under Albanian law against any police officer who exceeded the limits in their actions or response in relation to the violence inflicted on them. The figures, beyond the footage we have seen in recent days, show that the police response in Albania has been more restrained. These are official figures obtained today, so you should trust the numbers, but also the footage you see,” she said.