Albania protests turn violent as PM blames 'foreign hands'

· Politics · Albania

Thousands of young Albanians marched through Tirana on Friday, breaking windows and traffic lights on the fourth day of an increasingly violent student-led campaign to force Prime Minister Edi Rama to resign. Rama blamed "foreign hands" for escalating protests aimed at hindering Albania's EU accession bid, while students spearheading the movement demand political change. The unrest has grown into the biggest challenge to Rama in years. Meanwhile, in Azerbaijan, girls wearing headscarves have been turned away from schools, triggering rare protests involving children over unwritten hijab rules.

Why it matters：The unrest tests Albania's stability and EU ambitions, while the protests reflect broader youth-led movements challenging governments across Europe.

Key points

  • Thousands marched in Tirana on the fourth day of student-led protests.
  • PM Edi Rama blamed 'foreign hands' for escalating unrest.
  • Azerbaijan saw rare protests over headscarf school bans.

Sources (original reporting)

More stories from this day