In Albania, the next protest of the opposition, extended to the central axes of the country’s national roads, paralyzing for three hours, the circulation of vehicles. The opposition has long announced civil disobedience as a means to seek a technical government that can organize “free and fair elections”, while in parliament its action aims to block normal activity.
The access roads to the capital, as well as the main axes of movement towards the south, north and southeast, remained blocked. In the places announced for the protest, opposition leaders parked their vehicles, while they were joined by several hundred supporters. For more than 1 hour, everything passed peacefully, but the situation marked moments of tension at the western entrance of the capital and at the exit of the city of Elbasan, when the police started calling for the road to be cleared.
In Tirana, near the site of the protest, police forces were lined up with spacesuits and shields, advancing towards the road. Such a move was seen as a sign of provocation by opposition leaders who strongly demanded their withdrawal. There were also brief moments of clashes, with protesters trying to push the police fence.
In other parts of the blocked roads, everything was generally peaceful, with episodes of setting fire to piles of car tires or roadside bushes.
The General Secretary of the Democratic Party, Flamur Noka, said at the end of the protest at the entrance of the capital, that “our attitude and resistance will continue. Our resistance will bring a solution” he said emphasizing that “the technical government is the only solution for Albania and Albanians”. He reiterated that “civil disobedience will continue. There is no going back”./VOA
