Violence Enters Sixth Day in Albania as U.S. Republicans Warn Government and Prime Minister Blames 'Antifa'

Protests in Albania, a NATO member, turned violent again Sunday for a sixth straight day, and Republicans in Congress are speaking up.

Fox News reports that student-led crowds in the capital, Tirana, are demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama amid allegations of government corruption. Protesters have thrown rocks at police, burned government buildings and smashed windows, according to Fox. Police have used rubber bullets, water cannons and tear gas. Citing Reuters, Fox says police have charged 388 people and an unspecified number of protesters and officers have been hurt. The movement has spread beyond the capital, and Fox says it is driven by anger over corruption, weak education, unemployment and a lack of opportunity.

What U.S. lawmakers said. Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., wrote on X that "the government must refrain from all violence against protestors." Rep. Robert Aderholt, R-Ala., said all parties must reject violence and the government must respect peaceful protest. Rep. Keith Self, R-Texas, said the protests reflect "distrust of corrupt politicians and fatigue over the total disregard for the rule of law." The U.S. Embassy in Albania urged demonstrators to protest peacefully.

Rama's response. On Monday, Reuters reports, Rama blamed outside forces and said the protesters were "ideologized and radicalized" by what he called a "dark and new force" in Europe and the United States, "ANTIFA," which he noted the U.S. president has designated a terrorist organization. On Friday he spoke of "foreign hands" that do not want Albania to join the European family. He has framed the unrest as a threat to the country's path toward European Union membership.

A critic's view. Agim Nesho, a former Albanian ambassador to the U.S. and the U.N., told Fox that Rama is wrong to equate the protests with unrest in France and Italy, because Albania's grievances are specific. He said European integration should strengthen judicial independence and transparency, "not provide political protection from public accountability," and called on Brussels to examine alleged police abuses independently.

Brussels. The European Commission's enlargement directorate condemned "arson, attacks on State institutions and the destruction of public and private property" and said the response must stay "within the law and proportionate." It urged dialogue. Fox adds that the corruption allegations and the violence will complicate Albania's bid to join the EU, which it began pursuing as a candidate in 2014.

Context for readers: the corruption claims against the government are allegations, and the figure of 388 people charged comes from police via Reuters, not from our own count.