Translated from Albanian · Original article in Albanian →

Several women who took part in today’s protest have denounced the violent conduct of police forces towards them.

One of them said officers used violence and that the violence stopped as soon as they saw the media.

Another protester said police officers also threw stones.

A third protester said she joined the rally because the cost of living in Albania is very high and that it is impossible to survive on 500,000 old lek.

One of the protesters recounted that she and the other girls had hidden from the police because they knew they would be caught. According to her, she was hit on the lip, they were beaten, and another girl was struck with a stone by the police. When the media arrived, the officers stopped the violence.

Another said they were hit with stones that police officers had thrown. When journalists arrived, the officers simply pushed them away, having seen the cameras.

The third protester stressed that they are protesting for their rights, demanding good schools and higher pensions, because pensions are currently very low. She added that even though the whole family works, the money does not add up. According to her, nothing can be done with 500,000 lek, as food and everything else is far too expensive. She also said that no one can stop them and that they have received threats not to protest.