The police station was burned in the capital Tirana. Why are the streets in chaos in Albania?

Street movements in Albania, which started with the reaction against the inadequacy of infrastructure and allegations of corruption in universities and turned into anti-government demonstrations, entered a new phase with the police station being set on fire.

Prime Minister Edi Rama said in his statement today that the activists crossed the "red line".

The clashes, which have been going on between the police and the demonstrators since Tuesday last week, escalated with the burning of a police station and the throwing of a Molotov cocktail at the entrance of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Authorities announced that approximately 300 people, more than half of whom were police, were injured in the street incidents.

Riot teams used water pressurized, tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the crowds who targeted public buildings and broke shop windows.

The demonstrators responded to the security forces with stones, molotov cocktails and fireworks.

Many public buildings, including the Ministry of Education, which became the focal point of the protests, were heavily damaged in the clashes.

On Monday, hundreds of demonstrators gathered again in Tirana's main square and in front of the Ministry of Education.

Speaking to AFP, 22-year-old science student Leka Sina said, "We will continue our movement until Rama resigns. We are not criminals; we want social peace and better living conditions in our country."

Sina stated that violence is not the solution, but the government should make a deep self-criticism to understand this rebellion.

In his message published on Facebook, Prime Minister Edi Rama said, "Protest is a right, violence is a crime; this red line must be drawn clearly at this critical stage of our democratic development."

Stating that he is ready for dialogue with groups other than those who resort to violence and political parties that do not distance themselves from these actions, Rama praised the attitude of the police in the meeting he met with members of the police.

Rama promised a bonus of 2,500 euros to "every front-line officer" and a significant increase in police salaries from January 1.