Rama’s warning follows five days of escalating unrest in the capital, Tirana, where student-led demonstrations demanding his resignation have been marked by clashes with security forces, property damage and allegations of excessive police force. Reuters and The Associated Press reported that demonstrators threw rocks, petrol bombs, flares and fireworks at police, who responded with tear gas, water cannons and other crowd-control measures. Rubber bullets were also used during Saturday’s clashes.
In a social media statement, Rama said authorities would work to identify masked individuals involved in violence, signaling a tougher response to demonstrators who conceal their identities while attacking police or damaging property.
“The circle will tighten around those with masks.”
Addressing the use of rubber bullets, Rama defended the police response by citing an incident in which an officer was allegedly struck with a steel object and suffered a fractured jaw.
“Do you know why the rubber bullet was fired? The police officer got hit with a steel object here, his jaw was fractured, and his colleague removed the criminal who struck.”
Rama also defended the deployment of RENEA, saying the special unit had a duty to intervene when threats emerged, and pointed to police tactics in France to support his argument.
“Look at the police in France. What is this? RENEA has the duty to come out when there is a threat. It came out and will come out.”
His remarks come amid growing scrutiny of the police response to the demonstrations.
National Police Chief Skender Hita said seven officers had been suspended pending disciplinary investigations into allegations that they exceeded their authority and failed to respect the principle of proportionality.
Reuters reported that police footage appeared to show officers firing rubber bullets toward crowds outside the Education Ministry on Saturday, with projectiles striking two Reuters journalists and several demonstrators.
Hita said the measures used by police, including the most recent ones, had been deployed in a limited manner.
The Associated Press reported that police had recorded 167 arrests and 132 injured officers during the five days of unrest, while Reuters reported that 1,067 people had been arrested and 388 criminally prosecuted, reflecting figures reported by different accounts of the crackdown.
The demonstrations, meanwhile, have expanded beyond their initial focus on student grievances.
High school and university students have joined a broader anti-government movement driven by anger over alleged corruption, limited job opportunities, education standards and concerns about the country’s political leadership.
The unrest has also followed months of protests against a luxury tourism development on Albania’s southern coast linked to an investment firm founded by Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of US President Donald Trump.
Rama, who has been in power since 2013 and is serving his fourth term, has rejected calls to resign and accused conservative opponents of encouraging the violence.
Despite his hard-line warning to masked demonstrators, the prime minister said he remained willing to engage with citizens seeking dialogue, drawing a distinction between peaceful protest and attacks involving stones and concealed identities.
“Whoever wants to talk to me without masks, I am here. Whoever sends a message with stones and masks, you face me and the state,” Rama said.