The Tirana Court of First Instance has ordered the release of 19 protesters arrested during the demonstration held on July 2 outside the Albanian Parliament, replacing the prosecution’s request for pre-trial detention with significantly lighter measures.
The Tirana Prosecutor’s Office had requested pre-trial detention for two of the detainees, but the court rejected the request and instead imposed house arrest for two individuals. Another 12 protesters were placed under mandatory appearance, while no precautionary measure was imposed on five others.
The ruling was issued by Judge Sokol Mara, who did not accept the prosecutor Julian Xhengo’s request for “arrest in prison” for two of the accused. The decision was taken within the legal 72-hour deadline for reviewing arrests.
The detainees were arrested during ongoing mass protests in Tirana, part of a broader series of demonstrations demanding the resignation of the prime minister and a complete political overhaul.
According to lawyer Dorian Matlija, who spoke to the media after the hearing, several detainees showed visible signs of physical abuse.
He claimed that some of the protesters had clear injuries, including bleeding, observed inside the courtroom.
Allegations of excessive force have also been raised by the Albanian Helsinki Committee, which described the police response as disproportionate. The organization stated that law enforcement allegedly failed to issue proper warnings and used force even against individuals who had already been subdued.
Tensions during the July 2 protest reportedly led to chaotic clashes, including forced detentions, dragging of protesters, and use of batons by police. Authorities, however, stated that protesters threw stones and hard objects, injuring 15 police officers during the confrontation.
Meanwhile, the Tirana Prosecutor’s Office has referred 151 protesters for criminal proceedings up to June 29, although no precautionary measures had been requested for those cases until the July 2 arrests became the first instance of formal detention requests.
The case continues to draw attention amid ongoing political protests and rising scrutiny over the handling of demonstrations and law enforcement conduct in Albania.