30 Oct 2018 | 01:49 PM UTC
Greece/Albania: Tensions escalate after Greek man killed in Albania
Tensions between Greece and Albania escalate after ethnic Greek man shot by police in Albania on October 28; violent incidents reported
Event
A travel agent specialized in trips to and from Albania was attacked in Athens on Tuesday morning, October 30 (local time), reportedly in reaction to the killing of an ethnic Greek man in Albania on October 28. Groups of Greeks and Albanians also clashed on October 29 in Gerakas (east Attica), allegedly over the same issue; six people were injured. Further such incidents are possible in the coming days.
Context
Konstantinos Katsifas, an ethnic Greek man, was killed by police after having reportedly opened fire at them in the southern village of Bularat. The village was celebrating Oxi Day, the anniversary of the start of the Italo-Greek war in 1940.
While Greece and Albania have a friendship agreement, numerous issues continue to spark tensions between the two countries, notably territorial and ethnic claims.
Advice
Individuals in the two countries should avoid any associated protests as a precaution.
