- Title: Petrol bombs and water cannons in Tirana as graft protest turns violent
- Date: 22nd March 2026
- Summary: TIRANA, ALBANIA (MARCH 22, 2026) (REUTERS) PROTESTERS FIRING FIREWORKS AND PETROL BOMBS AT PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE BUILDING VARIOUS OF POLICE WATER CANNONS SPRAYING PROTESTERS, PETROL BOMBS BEING THROWN AT WATER CANNON TRUCK VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS FIRING FIREWORKS AT PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE, POLICE SPRAYING WATER POLICE SPRAYING WATER / JOURNALIST IN GAS MASK FILMING, FLAME
- Embargoed:
- Keywords: Albania anti-government police protest scuffles water cannons
- Location: TIRANA, ALBANIA
- City: TIRANA, ALBANIA
- Country: Albania
- Topics: Europe,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001642222032026RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Police in Tirana used water cannon in clashes on Sunday (March 22) with opposition protesters demanding the resignation of the Albanian government following corruption allegations against the deputy prime minister.
Demonstrators hurled petrol bombs and fireworks at the Prime Minister Edi Rama's office and police responded with water cannon.
Political tensions have escalated since December after a special prosecution unit indicted Rama's deputy, Belinda Balluku, for allegedly interfering in public tenders for major infrastructure projects and favouring certain companies, charges Balluku denies.
An anti-corruption court has suspended Balluku from office, but the Special Prosecution Office, tasked with fighting corruption, has demanded parliament lift her immunity to enable her arrest.
On March 12, lawmakers voted against lifting her immunity. Balluku, previously also serving as the country's infrastructure minister, is known as a close ally of Rama.
Albania is pursuing European Union membership by 2030, but Brussels has emphasised the need for stronger efforts to combat corruption and organised crime.
(Production: Florion Goga, Malgorzata Wojtunik) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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