Albania: Multiple groups plan protests in central Tirana July 18 /update 1

Opposition and civil society groups plan to hold two protests in central Tirana July 18. Opposition activists are organizing a protest at City Hall (Bashkise) on Sheshi Skenderbej from 11:00. The action is part of a series of protests aimed at denouncing the city's mayor and other officials following accusations of corruption in municipal contracts. Several hundred people are likely to be attending the protest. Previous gatherings resulted in clashes, injuries, and arrests. Law enforcement officers plan to implement road closures near City Hall from 09:30, and authorities call on the public to seek transport routes that avoid the area.

Civil society groups plan to protest at the Parliament building (Kuvendi i Shqiperise) on Rruga George W. Bush in central Tirana from 18:00. The groups are demanding the right for Albanian expatriates to vote in the 2025 election; organizers claim that around 1.6 million Albanians living outside the country cannot currently participate. A few hundred people could join the action.

Authorities will likely deploy increased security to monitor the events. Localized transport disruptions are likely near the protest sites; increased traffic is possible on the Middle Ring (Unaza e Mesme) and Great Ring (Unaza e Madhe) roadways as drivers seek to circumvent road closures near City Hall. Confrontations between demonstrators and law enforcement officers are likely at the morning protest at City Hall and cannot be ruled out at the evening demonstration at Parliament.