TIRANA, Albania — October 21, 2026 — Prime Minister Edi Rama’s government is reportedly preparing a package of measures targeting people involved in violent protests, including a special register of identified demonstrators and a proposed blacklist in Albania’s TIMS border-control system.
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According to the proposals made public, the government is also considering cooperation with EU countries to restrict the entry of individuals identified as violent, alongside potential restrictions on access to hotels, trains and other transport services.
Families, students and teachers could face penalties
The proposed measures could extend beyond protesters themselves. Parents may be required to pay for damage caused by their underage children, while the government is considering restrictions on certain public services for families whose children damage other people’s property.
Students involved in violent acts could lose scholarships and financial support. Administrative measures are also proposed for pupils who skip classes to participate in violent protests, while teachers accused of encouraging such acts could face dismissal.
The government is also considering lowering Albania’s minimum age of criminal responsibility, currently 14.
Facial recognition and social media restrictions
Rama has announced planned investments in technology to identify protesters wearing face coverings and detect anonymous social media accounts that he claims encourage violence.
The proposals also include a possible legal ban on attending demonstrations with covered faces and restrictions on social media use by children under 16.
If implemented, the package could significantly expand the consequences of protest-related offences and raise questions about privacy, freedom of assembly, access to education and the proportionality of restrictions on citizens.
Important: These measures are described as proposals under consideration, not confirmed laws already in force.