On the 98th day of the protest outside the Prime Minister’s Office in Tirana, activist Arben Kola launched a series of strong accusations against Albania’s regulatory bodies and key state institutions.
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Kola focused first on the Albanian property registration authorities, which he described as one of the main sources of social and property conflicts in the country. According to the activist, problems surrounding land ownership and property registration have contributed to conflicts and the alleged seizure of Albanians’ land since 1998.
He also sharply criticized the National Food Authority (AKU), accusing it of failing to adequately protect consumers from unsafe or substandard food products. Kola referred to allegations involving substandard flour imported from Serbia, meat contaminated with salmonella and expired food products, claiming that such practices have endangered public health.
Another target of his criticism was Tirana Water Supply and Sewerage (UKT). Kola denounced what he described as chronic problems with drinking-water supplies and questioned the implementation of investments and promises for 24-hour water service that, according to him, date back to 2013.
Criticism of Financial and Energy Institutions
Kola then turned his attention to Albania’s financial and energy sectors.
He accused financial regulatory institutions of failing to adequately protect citizens from the economic consequences of fluctuations in foreign currencies. According to him, declines in exchange rates have not been sufficiently reflected in consumer prices, leaving Albanian households under continued financial pressure.
He also criticized institutions overseeing the hydrocarbon sector, accusing them of allowing the decline of the Ballsh oil refinery and of failing to address what he described as excessively high fuel prices in Albania.
The activist further targeted OSHEE and KESH, claiming that ordinary citizens have faced severe consequences over unpaid electricity bills and, in some cases, bills reaching millions of lek.
Agriculture Also Comes Under Fire
In the final part of his speech, Kola criticized the Ministry of Agriculture, accusing successive policies of contributing to the deterioration of Albania’s agricultural sector since 2014.
He argued that insufficient support for farmers has made it increasingly difficult for Albanians who return from emigration to establish sustainable livelihoods in agriculture.
Kola concluded by arguing that, in the face of what he described as a broad network of corruption and institutional mismanagement, continued civic protest remains one of the few avenues available to citizens seeking change.
The allegations and characterizations presented above reflect the statements and views expressed by activist Arben Kola during the protest. They have not been independently verified by Oculus News. The institutions mentioned have not been presented here as having been proven responsible for the alleged conduct and would have the opportunity to respond to the claims.