Professors at Tirana Polytechnic University Join Student Protests, Call on Edi Rama to Resign

 TIRANA, Albania — On the eighth day of protests, professors and academics gathered outside the Polytechnic University of Tirana to express solidarity with students and prepare for a joint march against the government of Prime Minister Edi Rama.

 

The academics called on Rama to listen to the students’ demands, warning that the violence witnessed during the demonstrations against young protesters was unacceptable.

“We have seen unidentified civilians escorting students. Brutality against Albanian youth is unacceptable,” one of the professors said, describing scenes that have raised concerns over the treatment of young demonstrators.

The professors also appealed to the international community to turn its attention to Albania and the reported brutality against young people taking part in the protests.

“We call on the international community to look toward Albania and this brutality. We express our solidarity with the students,” the academics said in their statement.

Professors Stand in Solidarity With Students

A video received by the Oculus News editorial team shows professors and academics gathering outside the Polytechnic University of Tirana, preparing to join students in a joint march.

Their presence marks a significant expression of solidarity between Albania’s academic community and the younger generation, as the protests enter their eighth day.

The planned march is intended to reinforce the students’ demands and their call for Prime Minister Edi Rama to resign.

The participation of university professors adds another dimension to the demonstrations, which have drawn attention to concerns about the government’s response to the protests and the treatment of young people on the streets of Tirana.

A Call for International Attention

By calling on international institutions and the wider international community to pay attention to events in Albania, the professors have sought to bring greater scrutiny to the conduct of those responding to the demonstrations.

Their message is clear: students should be heard, and reports of violence against young demonstrators must not be ignored.

As professors prepare to march alongside their students, the demonstration sends a broader message about the role of universities and educators in defending young people’s right to express their demands peacefully.

The developing protests will test not only the government's willingness to respond to the students' demands, but also the ability of Albania's institutions to protect the right to peaceful assembly and ensure accountability for any abuses.