The leader of the main opposition Democratic Party of Albania, Sali Berisha, claims that the tear gas that the police used at an anti-government protest in Tirana, organized by his party on April 17, was bear poison, Euronews Albania and the news portal “Schiptar“ reported, BTA reported.
The leader of the Democrats, quoted by “Schiptar“, described this as an unprecedented case and added that at the protest, law enforcement officers hit representatives of the Democratic Party and its supporters, as well as that “Molotov“ cocktails were thrown at protesters.
“I condemn this "unprecedented terror against peaceful protesters," Berisha said after the protest.
In a later post on social media, Berisha repeated the allegations of bear poison and police violence against protesters and members of his party.
“I condemn in the strongest possible terms the violence against protesters and the open and planned violence against key leaders of the Democratic Party and its deputies, absolutely all of whom were at the most peaceful protest and made the greatest contribution to preserving the peaceful nature of the protest. "For this purpose, in a programmed manner, they (the police) use weapons with known lethal effects, such as bear spray, which is tens of times more powerful than the spray (with tear gas) used against people," Berisha said in the publication, quoted by Euronews Albania.
According to the opposition leader, law enforcement officers "selectively" hit key leaders of the Democratic Party and its deputies Flamur Noca, Luciano Boci, Clevis Baliu, Ivi Caso, Blendi Himci, Aulon Callaja and, as Berisha said, many others.
Berisha claims that protesters are "tortured" and in police stations where they were detained after the protest.
According to information from the Albanian police, a total of 11 people were arrested in connection with the protest.
In recent months, the Democratic Party of Albania, led by former Albanian President and Prime Minister Sali Berisha, and its allies have organized frequent protests demanding the resignation of the socialist government of Edi Rama, the formation of a transitional (technical) cabinet and the holding of free elections. The protests were sparked by allegations by the Democrats that the votes in the parliamentary vote in Albania last year were manipulated. Tensions have further escalated following corruption allegations against the Albanian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Energy, Belinda Baluku, who was subsequently removed from office.