Police use tear gas against anti-government "Flamingo Revolution" in Tirana

Hundreds of protesters gathered outside Albania's Parliament in Tirana on Thursday, demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama with chants of "Rama must go to jail." The demonstration, part of ongoing "Flamingo Revolution" protests, escalated as demonstrators hurled stones, eggs, and plastic bottles at police.

Law enforcement responded by deploying tear gas, pepper spray, and water cannons to disperse the crowd. The clashes resulted in injuries to 12 police officers and the detention of 18 demonstrators, according to authorities. A police car was also damaged during the confrontation.

While the protests initially stemmed from environmental concerns over a luxury resort project planned by Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of former U.S. President Donald Trump, in the protected Narta Lagoon, they have evolved into broader political opposition. The lagoon is a critical habitat for rare bird species, including 3,000 flamingos, which gave the movement its name.

Despite the environmental origins, the protests now target Prime Minister Rama directly, who has strongly supported Kushner's development project. Interior Minister Blerand Hoxha condemned the "vandalism and criminal violence against the police," calling it an "attack on the state."