Albanian Government Protests

Date: January 21, 2011 • Location: Tirana, Albania

Demonstrations against alleged corruption in the Albanian government led to the killings of four protesters in Tirana by the Republican Guard.

Anti-government protests took place in 2011 in cities across Albania following 18 months of political conflict over alleged electoral fraud by the opposition. A video surfaced which portrayed the deputy prime minister arranging a corrupt deal with the minister of economy. The public outcry over the video resulted in the resignation of the deputy prime minister, Ilir Meta. A demonstration was called by parliamentary opposition parties, which include the Socialist Party and the Unity for Human Rights Party. These were called on 21 January in order to protest the alleged corruption of the Albanian government as well as widespread unemployment and poverty in the country.