Albanian protesters clash with police in Tirana over corruption

Thousands of protesters gathered in Tirana, Albania, on Saturday to demand Prime Minister Edi Rama's resignation, with police responding to stone-throwing with tear gas and water cannons. The demonstration against corruption and poor conditions turned violent for the first time in months. The protest, led by students and young women, was sparked by a tourism project linked to Jared Kushner in a protected area, but has grown to include demands for better education and economic prospects. Police deployed special units after a small group threw paving stones at the Education Ministry, while many shops closed in support of the movement. The movement, ongoing for over 130 days without a clear leader, reflects deep frustration as over 1.5 million Albanians have emigrated since 1990, leaving a population of 2.3 million with an average gross salary of about 930 euros. Rama condemned the "intolerable" violence as a "hybrid war" orchestrated by foreign actors, while protesters reject political co-optation by opposition parties.