+ + Violence Will Not Silence the Protest: Criminal Complaint Filed with SPAK Targeting the Police Chain of Command
Tirana, 26 October 2026. Following two weeks of protests involving students and citizens in Tirana and other cities, civil society representatives, intellectuals, lawyers, and students condemn police violence against protesters and announce efforts to establish accountability through a criminal complaint filed with SPAK.
In their joint statement, they express their support for the students and oppose the use of force to intimidate citizens and prevent peaceful protest. Beating and humiliating protesters undermines their safety and the freedom of all citizens to hold institutions accountable.
“Students have the right to protest and demand answers without fearing that they will be subjected to violence. Violence against them is being used as a warning to anyone who dares to speak out, which is why responding to it is the responsibility of society. Standing alongside the students means defending freedom and civic dignity,” says Ermal Hasimja, representing a broad group of intellectuals.
According to the complainants, the submitted material contains more than 180 documented incidents of unlawful conduct, including violence against peaceful protesters and individuals who had already been subdued, interventions by officers without identifying insignia, and actions by unidentified individuals in civilian clothing in the presence of, or in coordination with, the Police. These are not isolated incidents but systemic patterns that suggest potential criminal liability on the part of senior officials. The students are part of the criminal complaint and the public demand for those responsible to be held accountable without delay.
“Our participation in the protest is a way of demanding accountability and defending our rights. The violence committed by certain individuals does not take away our right to speak, nor will it force us into silence. The failure to isolate individuals who commit acts of violence is a failure of the Police, and it must be held accountable for this. We are part of this criminal complaint because we demand that those who actually break the law face criminal accountability and that no one feel untouchable before the law,” emphasizes Lorenco Sina, a student actively involved in the protest.
The criminal complaint, filed by the Res Publica Centre together with organisations, lawyers, students, and engaged citizens, is directed against the Director General of the State Police, Skënder Hita, and other senior police officials. It also calls for an investigation into the role of Prime Minister Edi Rama and Minister of Internal Affairs Ervin Demo, examining their directives, communications, and potential contribution to the creation, support, or tolerance of the alleged mechanism for suppressing the protest.
“We demand that the truth be established not only about who struck the blows, but also about who gave the orders, who allowed it to happen, and who had a duty to stop the violence. The recurrence and scale of these incidents require an investigation into the entire chain of command. Individual responsibility must be established based on evidence, while institutional responsibility must be determined regardless of rank or position,” says lawyer Dorian Matlija.
Civil society representatives emphasize that their response will continue through peaceful protest, the documentation of violations, and legal action to address them. They call on SPAK to conduct a prompt, comprehensive, and impartial investigation, stressing that violent acts committed during the protests do not justify the indiscriminate use of force against all participants.
“The criminal complaint filed with SPAK takes this struggle to the front of the justice system as well. We will stand alongside the students and continue to demand accountability for the abuses reported. Violence cannot become the price citizens have to pay for raising their voices,” declares Olsi Nika, a civil society representative.
**SPAK – Special Structure Against Corruption and Organised Crime
Photo Credits: Citizens.al
