Albanian police fire tear gas at protesters as Education Ministry attacked

By Al Jazeera Staff, AFP and Reuters. Published On 13 Oct 202613 Oct 2026.

Key points

• Protesters hurled bricks and concrete blocks at the Education Ministry on Tuesday, demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama.
• Albania's Deputy Prime Minister Albana Kociu wrote on Facebook: Violence has not been, is not, and will never be a solution.
• The Albanian capital has seen a series of anti-government protests since May, sparked by a luxury tourism project linked to US President Donald Trump's family.
• "What Albania needs is a revolution, a change, a complete overthrow of the system because it can't go on like this, " protester Luljeta Kola remarked.
• Albanian riot police have fired tear gas and water cannons at hundreds of student demonstrators protesting over education and social conditions in the capital Tirana.

Student organisers remarked the protest was over conditions at universities, higher education costs, financial backing and employment prospects after graduation.

At least six officers and one female journalist were injured, according to a statement by police, and 23 individuals were arrested.

Police called on the protesters to stop attacking the ministry, but some attendees continued to assault officers with Molotov cocktails, firecrackers, stones and other hard objects, the statement remarked.

Protesters remarked they wanted to express frustration with inequality and administration economic policies.

"What Albania needs is a revolution, a change, a complete overthrow of the system because it can't go on like this, " protester Luljeta Kola remarked. She continued that there was a deep social divide between the rich and the poor in the country.

Albania's Deputy Prime Minister Albana Kociu wrote on Facebook: "Violence has not been, is not, and will never be a solution. As well as the senseless destruction of public property, are not how youth should express themselves.", throwing stones, attacking institutions and the state police.

Meanwhile, the Albanian capital has seen a series of anti-government protests since May, sparked by a luxury tourism project linked to US President Donald Trump's family.

Meanwhile, the project has fuelled anger over alleged corruption and a lack of transparency, with protesters demanding Rama's resignation.

Students echoed those demands but informed local media that Tuesday's rally additionally aimed to decry university conditions, tuition fees and a lack of backing for young residents.

"Challenges are not solved by pretending they do not exist. Students have questions, demands and plenty of reasons to be heard, " one of the organisers remarked on Instagram.

In short, albanian police fire tear gas at protesters as Education Ministry attacked is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.