Rama said the State Police have obtained data for the introduction of masks and explosives in Albania, as well as for organising groups that, according to his claims, have participated in violent episodes.
During the statement, the head of the government distinguished between the right to protest and violent acts, stressing that peaceful student protests had legitimate reasons but claimed they were influenced by other forces as well.
While freedom to protest is an indisputable right of every citizen in Albania, violence is an irrevocable and unwarranted crime, Rama said.
According to the prime minister, recent protests were accompanied by a escalation that, in his assessment, was not spontaneous but was prepared earlier. He also criticised the way in which, according to him, events were reflected on several television screens, claiming that the public was created a distorted perception of clashes between protesters and police.
Rama: The escalation has been prepared for months
The prime minister said authorities have data on access to masks and explosives, as well as on subjects that, according to him, have contributed to the organisation of violent protests.
The escalation has been prepared for several months. The introduction data in Albania of masks, explosives and so on through customs and specific subjects are already in the hands of police, he said.
Rama also referred to groups he described as part of the Antifa network, claiming that they operate in the name of communism, anarchy, and anticapitalism and that they use violence to influence public life.
The data of group organisation as part of the Antifa network, the urban terror network that on behalf of communism, anarchy and anticapitalism has decided to enter people’s lives through violence are in the hands of the State Police, the prime minister said.
Following the statement, Rama reiterated allegations that a part of the persons involved in violent protests have been financed by organised crime and foreign sources. He also cited the Democratic Party, which he accused of political responsibility over violent episodes near the Ministry of Education.
But in the hands of the State Police there are also participants, or more precisely a part of the participants in this violence financed by organised crime and foreign forces, from money coming from abroad, where the glas on cake is the DP, which yesterday received and the authorship of violence at the Ministry of Education, the beginning of violence, Rama said.
These statements constitute the prime minister’s claims. The submitted material does not provide detailed public evidence to confirm claims by the Antifa network or financing protests from organised crime and foreign sources.
During his speech, the head of the government also referred to the number of protesters and police workers injured during the protests. According to him, in Tirana the report was two police officers injured for any injured protesters, while in other European countries he cited the report was opposed.
I have shared with you reports of wounded protesters and injured policemen in Europe and Albania, in countries where something similar has happened, and in Tirana, where unfortunately there have been 2 police officers injured for an injured protester while in other countries the report is overturned, Rama said.
The prime minister did not specify in this part of the declaration all comparison data, periods or statistical sources on which he supported this report.
In the end, Rama insisted that peaceful protests are a citizens’ right, but claimed that violent episodes have been prompted by organised groups and that relevant data lies in the hands of the State Police. Verification of these claims and determining concrete responsibilities belong to competent institutions.
Source Layer: RTKLive