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Albania has introduced fines of up to 500,000 leks (about €5,500 or $6,130) for people involved in violent demonstrations, as protests demanding Prime Minister Edi Rama’s resignation continue in the capital, Tirana.
Rama’s government adopted the measures on Wednesday following weeks of unrest that have escalated into clashes between demonstrators and security forces.
The protests began peacefully in May, with opposition to a luxury hotel project in a nature reserve linked to the family of United States President Donald Trump.
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By mid-October, the demonstrations had expanded to include complaints about alleged corruption, weaknesses in the healthcare system and limited opportunities for young people.
Under the new rules, people who remain in crowds involved in violence or looting in public spaces, or who conceal their identities, could face fines.
The maximum penalty is substantial in a country where the average monthly salary before tax is about €930.
The measures also empower police to temporarily restrict public gatherings in designated areas, including around schools, healthcare facilities and government buildings, where there is a risk of violence.
Additional provisions target online calls for violence and require compensation for small businesses damaged during demonstrations.
The rules took immediate effect but must receive parliamentary approval within 45 days to remain in force.
Rama said on Sunday that he had drawn inspiration from a French legislative proposal seeking to make demonstrators financially responsible for damage caused during street protests.
The French measure was passed by the upper house of parliament on Wednesday.
The Albanian prime minister has repeatedly blamed foreign actors for the unrest, accusing Russia and Iran of fuelling online misinformation. He has also called for dialogue.
Official estimates put damage from the demonstrations since mid-October at more than €2 million. Clashes involving police, who have deployed tear gas and water cannon to disperse crowds, have left more than 350 people injured.
Albania, a Balkan country of 2.3 million people, has experienced substantial population decline since the fall of communism in the 1990s, with more than 1.5 million people leaving the country.
