Activists have called for renewed protests over the shock demolition of old National Theatre in Tirana – which former European Council President Donald Tusk also condemned, as ‘going against the European values of rule of law and dialogue’.
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One day after the shock demolition of the National Theatre in the Albanian capital, Tirana, the Alliance for the Protection of the Theatre called for fresh protests against what it called “a dictatorship”, as Prime Minister Edi Rama appealed for calm.
An excavator removed rubble from the site on Monday morning, forming a contrasting image to billboards still inviting theatre-goers to come and see stage plays.
Police officers remained present at the site, which saw clashes with protesters over the weekend, but there were no protesters on Monday morning. Some pedestrians passing by the rubble filmed the scene with mobile phones. “Aren’t you ashamed of protecting a gang?” one shouted at police who didn’t reply.
Police removed dozens of protesters from the site on Sunday, as cameras filmed several cases of what looked like excessive force.
Prime Minister Rama and Mayor of Tirana Erion Veliaj, the two hate figures in the eyes of the protesters, meanwhile appealed for calm. “I want to extend my hand to anybody who disagreed with us in this battle,” Mayor Veliaj said, calling the demolition one of the most difficult decisions he had ever faced – but a right one.
“I am not a saint and not blameless but I have nothing to do with dark works you accuse me of,” Rama said on Twitter, addressing one protester by name.
Despite his soothing words, media reports said the police continued to behave aggressively against a group of young protesters after he sent that message.
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