A daily English summary of what Pas Perdes reported from Albania on 24 October 2026, the 12th day of student-led protests against Prime Minister Edi Rama’s government.
Police use tear gas and water cannon on peaceful protesters outside the Education Ministry
Thousands of students and young protesters gathered in front of the Ministry of Education on the 12th day of the revolt against Prime Minister Edi Rama and his government. Although the protesters were peaceful, police attacked them with high-pressure water and tear gas, which Pas Perdes described as unprecedented. Police continued trying to disperse the crowd as it moved towards Dëshmorët Boulevard and the Prime Minister’s Office.
Read the original in Albanian →
Protesters regroup outside the Prime Minister’s Office after tear gas
Protesters did not leave even after police used tear gas and water cannon: after briefly dispersing, they regrouped and occupied “Dëshmorët e Kombit” Boulevard opposite the Prime Minister’s Office, chanting “Resignation!”. The day’s protest also had the support of the opposition, whose representatives joined the students from midday. The situation around the Prime Minister’s Office remained tense.
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Criminal complaint filed with SPAK over police violence, seeking investigation of Rama
The Res Publica Centre, together with civil society organisations, lawyers, students and citizens, has filed a criminal complaint with the Special Prosecution Office (SPAK) asking it to investigate more than 180 allegedly unlawful incidents during the protests that began on 13 October. The complaint asks prosecutors to examine whether these were individual acts or an organised practice ordered or tolerated by commanders, including State Police Director General Skënder Hita and Tirana Police Director Oliger Torba, and to verify the role of Prime Minister Edi Rama and Interior Minister Ervin Demo. It also seeks scrutiny of government decisions of 19 and 21 October awarding police officers bonuses of 269,120 lek each, and highlights masked officers without visible identification who allegedly used violence against protesters.
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Commentary The prime minister as prosecutor, judge and executioner: Rama’s “blacklist” and the laws he breaks himself – by Besmir Semanaj
Besmir Semanaj argues that by publishing on 23 October a list of people arrested at the protests, with initials, photos and alleged criminal records, and claiming they were paid by organised crime and foreign forces, Rama bypassed the courts and the presumption of innocence; the list also included a 17-year-old. One person named, medical student Jon Sinoimeri, publicly rejected the claims, and according to BIRN the prime minister offered no evidence. The author calls on prosecutors, the data protection commissioner and the Ombudsman to act, and on Rama to apologise and withdraw the list.
Read the original in Albanian →
Watch the evidence: Pas Perdes keeps a public archive of videos documenting police violence during the 2026 protests. Video archive →
About this brief: Pas Perdes is an independent, non-partisan Albanian civic news and accountability portal. This brief summarises and translates our own reporting from Albanian; opinion and commentary pieces are labelled. Corrections and right of reply: contact us.
