Albania's Prime Minister accuses "hidden hands" of being behind the violence

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On Tuesday, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama placed the violence taking place in the capital, Tirana, during the protests that have been going on for a week in the category of a “multi-means war” being waged by hidden hands, ahead of the launch of a “solidarity march” for students and university professors.

The escalation of unrest comes after months of peaceful anti-government protests in the Balkan country, which initially erupted against the backdrop of a controversial project to establish a resort linked to the family of US President Donald Trump.

For a week, Tirana has been witnessing violent demonstrations involving thousands of protesters demanding Rama's departure, in protest against the conditions of universities and the rise in tuition fees.

During a meeting on Tuesday morning with secondary school principals in the capital, the Prime Minister confirmed that a “multi-method war” is being hatched behind the scenes based on “real concerns” about the high cost of living, housing prices, and the future.

Rama added, according to a statement issued by his office received by Agence France-Presse, that “hands funded and trained by external parties, in a phenomenon that has become the focus of great interest throughout Europe, are the ones managing” the violence, considering that the goal is “to obstruct the country’s progress and disrupt the course of negotiations to join the European Union.”

Rama announced several measures to reduce acts of violence by minors, most notably lowering the age of criminal responsibility, currently set at 18 years, as well as banning the use of social media networks for those under sixteen.