Minister Albana Koçiu is giving a press conference regarding the protest held yesterday by the opposition, a protest characterized by tensions and clashes between protesters and police.

She emphasized that minors were used in the protest to throw hard objects at the officers, while using harsh language she announced that the perpetrators would be punished to the maximum extent, according to legal criteria.

Koçiu has declared that the DP protests have been abandoned by citizens and that, according to her, “militants and elements paid to create the idea of ​​a popular revolt” are participating in them. She has been even harsher when she has called the DP leader a repeat offender.

"A failed attempt to come to power by attacking law enforcement officers, burning institutions and using minors to throw Molotov cocktails and strong drinks at police officers, so as not to prosecute the real perpetrators. It is a shameful and reprehensible act. Misusing minors to commit a criminal offense is a reprehensible act. The DP protests have been abandoned by citizens, ending with a handful of militants or paid elements to create the scenario of a popular revolt. The right to protest is not a right to rape, or attempt to maim or kill police officers. The Ministry of Interior will not stand idly by, the perpetrators will be punished, behind which are the orderlies hidden behind immunity, under the leadership of Sali Berisha, a repeat violator of attacks on institutions and the Constitutional order," she said.

Press statement by the Minister of Internal Affairs, Albana Koçiu:

The failed attempt to come to power by attacking law enforcement officers, burning institutions, and even more so by using minors to throw Molotov cocktails or hard objects at police officers, so that the real perpetrators are not prosecuted, is a shameful and reprehensible act.

The misuse of minors to commit acts of violence is a criminal offense, but it is also a serious moral violation. Here, a special role can and must be played by institutions, civil society and the family itself, to protect these minors from being used and instrumentalized for the dark purposes of criminal politics.

This is precisely the reason why the Democratic Party protests have been massively abandoned by citizens. Ending up with a handful of militants, or paid elements to create imaginary scenarios of a popular revolt. This is unacceptable.

The right to protest is not the right to violate, destroy, or even less, attempt to maim or kill police officers.

Therefore, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the State Police will not stand idly by. The perpetrators of these barbaric acts will be punished to the fullest extent of the law.

I call on the justice authorities to treat with maximum and legal responsibility these barbaric attacks on the uniform, behind which undoubtedly stand the order-givers hidden behind immunity, under the leadership of Sali Berisha; a repeat violator of attacks on institutions and the constitutional order.

The people responsible must understand that they have no political shield over their heads. Whoever tries to kill a police officer, whoever tries to burn down institutions, receives neither the award as the best terrorist, nor the recognition of his party, but goes to prison and receives the punishment provided by the law.

Today, maximum solidarity for all injured police officers, as well as for all their colleagues, who once again professionally perform their duties, not falling prey to a clear strategy of terror, through repeated provocation of violence and bloodshed.

The self-restraint of law enforcement, in the most extreme conditions, is an extraordinary guarantee for all honest citizens, who, regardless of their political beliefs, are united in their desire not to see violence, much less the repetition of the terrible events before their eyes.

There is no retreat in the face of criminal acts, of a violent minority with masks, which hide their faces, but cannot cover their intent.

We will always stand by the uniformed personnel, journalists and media people on duty, and all those who exercise the constitutional right to assemble, in respect of the law and coexistence in a democratic society.