Nigerian Journalist Launches Book Examining U.S. Capture of Maduro and Its Impact on Global Order
May 11, 2026
Running on a Shoestring: Myanmar’s Exiled Media Turns to New Survival Models Amid Funding Collapse
May 11, 2026
May 11, 2026 – Albania –
Tensions escalated during an opposition protest in Tirana as clashes broke out between demonstrators and police, with authorities deploying water cannons and tear gas to disperse crowds, while journalists covering the event were also affected.
According to reports from the protest, supporters of the Democratic Party gathered in the capital and attempted to march toward key government buildings, including the Prime Minister’s Office. Police established heavy security cordons to block movement and prevent protesters from advancing toward restricted areas.
As the situation intensified, demonstrators reportedly threw objects and used pyrotechnics, while security forces responded with crowd-control measures including pressurized water jets and tear gas. The confrontation led to prolonged standoffs across central Tirana, with multiple points of friction between protesters and law enforcement.
Several reports highlight that journalists and media teams present at the scene were also exposed to the effects of water cannons during the dispersal operations. Some journalists were hit by high-pressure water while documenting the protests, raising renewed concerns about media safety during public demonstrations.
Opposition representatives condemned the use of force, arguing that the police response went beyond maintaining order and instead interfered with press activity and public documentation of the protest. They described the treatment of journalists as a violation of media freedom and called for accountability regarding the conduct of security forces.
The protest forms part of a wider pattern of recurring political demonstrations in Albania, where opposition groups have repeatedly clashed with police over corruption allegations and governance disputes. These rallies have frequently involved the use of tear gas and water cannons by authorities alongside projectiles and pyrotechnics from protesters.
Media freedom organizations have previously warned that journalists covering protests in the country face heightened risks when dispersal tactics are used in crowded areas, particularly when press presence is not clearly protected during crowd-control operations.
The latest incident adds to ongoing concerns about the safety of journalists during politically charged demonstrations, with calls for clearer protocols to ensure media personnel can report without being directly exposed to enforcement actions targeting protesters.
Reference –
