In brief
Students demanding lower tuition have joined the long‑running Flamingo protest in Albania, turning Tirana’s streets into a battlefield. Riots spread to Durrës, Shkodër, Korçë and Vlora, with parts of the education ministry and prime‑minister’s office set ablaze. Prime Minister Edi Rama blamed opposition leader Sali Berisha, foreign spies and a luxury‑resort plan tied to Jared Kushner, warning that Albania’s EU ambitions were under threat. Despite the unrest, travelers are advised to avoid large gatherings and check local updates for safety guidance.
Six days of protests erupting in Albania’s biggest cities have turned ugly after students and the long‑running Flamingo movement joined forces, sparking clashes with riot police across Tirana, Durrës, Shkodër, Korçë and Vlora.
The student march began as a demand for lower tuition fees and a cost‑of‑living bailout, but quickly morphed into a full‑scale assault on government institutions: floor fire at the education ministry, attacks on the prime minister’s office, and water‑cannon blasts in market streets.
Prime Minister Edi Rama, in his fourth term, blamed opposition leader Sali Berisha, foreign spies and a purported protest‑sponsoring project tied to U.S. President Trump’s son‑in‑law, Jared Kushner. He threatened that “foreign hands” were trying to derail Albania’s EU ambitions.
The “Flamingo” protests began earlier this summer — militants rallied with pink‑flamingo cut‑outs demanding Rama’s resignation — and have now escalated into violent clashes with officers. Youth activists recount police beating, tear‑gas and a young man’s broken leg dangling as he was dragged away.
Despite the chaos, Naira and the UK government urge tourists to stay safe: avoid large gatherings, check local news, and heed official guidance.More travel advice.
