Foreign Minister Ferit Hoxha has gathered ambassadors from European Union countries to explain to them that peaceful protest is a fundamental democratic freedom. A lesson that sounds somewhat ironic, given that for two weeks Albania has been engulfed by student protests, clashes with police and accusations of excessive use of force against protesters.
During the meeting, Hoxha emphasized that the right to protest must be respected, but that violence, vandalism, and attacks on public or private property cannot be accepted as means of political expression.
But while the minister explains the principles of democracy to European diplomats, in Tirana protesters have demanded the resignation of Edi Rama's government, while police interventions with tear gas, water cannon and physical force have raised concerns about the proportionality of the authorities' response.
In fact, the European Union Delegation itself has requested an investigation into allegations of excessive use of force by the police. Thus, Minister Hoxha reminds ambassadors who have raised concerns about the treatment of protesters that protest is a democratic right.
European ambassadors hardly need to be explained that protest is a fundamental right, while the Albanian government would do well to be reminded that this right must be respected even outside diplomatic meeting rooms, where protests are held and the resignation of the prime minister is demanded.
