Albanian police have fined 21 protesters 5,000 lek (€50) each for blocking traffic during a demonstration on Dëshmorët e Kombit Boulevard in central Tirana. The authorities have also referred the cases to the Prosecutor's Office for further action.
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According to the police, each demonstrator has been fined 5,000 Albanian lek, equivalent to approximately €50, bringing the total amount of penalties to 105,000 lek.
Police said the protesters had refused to comply with repeated instructions from officers to clear the road and allow vehicles to pass. As a result, officers prepared administrative violation reports against the 21 individuals.
The relevant materials have also been forwarded to the Prosecutor's Office for further legal action.
21 Protesters Face Administrative Penalties in Tirana
The fines concern citizens who took part in a demonstration along one of Tirana's main traffic arteries, Dëshmorët e Kombit Boulevard, where the protest temporarily disrupted the movement of vehicles.
The police justified the measures by citing the protesters' failure to follow officers' instructions to reopen the road.
The incident has once again drawn attention to the relationship between the right to peaceful assembly and the authorities' responsibility to maintain public order and ensure the free movement of traffic.
While police maintain that the penalties were imposed for administrative violations involving the obstruction of traffic, the cases also raise questions about how demonstrations and road blockages are handled by law enforcement in Albania.
For the 21 citizens involved, the immediate consequence is a financial penalty of 5,000 lek each. Further developments will depend on the examination of the materials referred to the Prosecutor's Office.
The total amount of fines imposed in connection with the demonstration stands at 105,000 lek.