The luxury high-rises transforming Tirana's skyline are meant to project the image of a modern European capital. But at the foot of one of these buildings, Samanta, a 22-year-old master's student in economics, is in tears. She removes the mask she had been wearing to protect herself from tear gas.
"How could I ever afford an apartment in one of these towers on a salary of €540 [$608]?" she shouts, as she stands facing a line of police officers. "I share the rent with people I don't even know because my family has emigrated. We're exhausted." University lecture halls in Tirana stand empty as students boycott classes and take to the streets, demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama, who has been in power since 2013.
Albanians have been protesting since late May as part of a broader anti-government movement known as the "Flamingo Revolution," which began in response to a multimillion-euro tourism development linked to Jared Kushner, son-in-law of US President Donald Trump, in the protected coastal area of Zvernec. The movement has, however, since grown into a broader challenge to Rama's government. Over the past three days, the student demonstrations have erupted into violent clashes.
Bins, businesses, buildings and banks have been set ablaze, with some completely burning out. Tear gas has filled the air. A total of 152 people have been arrested and 324 are under investigation over the three days of protests.
Injuries have been reported among both protesters and police officers, with the police saying 71 officers have been injured in the clashes. The students are angry about conditions at universities, the cost of higher education and poor employment prospects after graduation. But above all, they want the government to step down and say they are not willing to negotiate any of their other demands with the prime minister.
"You didn't listen to us for four months while we protested peacefully. Now you'll listen as the city burns," said Samanta. During the first two days of the student protests, the prime minister remained silent.
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