The Chairwoman of the Committee on Culture, Tourism and Diaspora, DP MP Ina Zhupa, has reacted harshly to the fines imposed on citizens who participate in protests. During the debates at the committee meeting, Zhupa described them as unconstitutional and a tool of repression, fear and intimidation by a government in exile.

She stated that these fines will be overturned in court and that protesters should not see them as punishment, but as evidence of their participation in the revolution against the government.

"These are commendations for whoever receives them. Of course, these will be put in frames, because they will not be paid for," Zhupa declared.

She described the fining of citizens for blocking roads during protests as scandalous, recalling that protests take place on the streets and that even communism, according to her, did not use such methods against protesting citizens.

Excerpts from the debate:

These are all unconstitutional fines, which are your nightmare, they are your terror. That's why you fine those protesters. These are fines that you will not get a single lek from, because these are fines that will all be overturned by the court.

These are commendations for anyone who receives them, because they show that they were a participant in the Albanian revolution against traitors. They are commendations for anyone who has them, and of course these will be framed, because they will not be paid for, because they are unconstitutional.

They are just a tool of repression, a tool of fear, a tool of intimidation by a government in exile. Where have you seen this, in which country in the world have you seen this, where citizens are fined for blocking the road while they are protesting?

Where will they protest, on the roof? They will protest in the streets. They protested in the streets even when your minister was saying yesterday that we protested and overthrew communism.

They have protested on the boulevard, they have protested on the street. They have toppled busts. Because what you are doing is your fear, it is a reflection. This is all here. In every part, the fear of Edi Rama is written. The terror of Edi Rama and the escape of Edi Rama.

And this is a medal for whoever gets it. A letter of commendation. It's a shame that you use these methods that communism didn't even use. The method that you fine people who protest, that you fine citizens who protest!

It's a scandal.