Fire breaks out at Albania's Education Ministry amid third day of student protests

Students in Tirana escalated protests on Tuesday night by breaking into the Education Ministry and igniting a fire, police said, leading to 16 arrests. The demonstrators, who have been gathering for three consecutive days, also hurled rocks at the building, tore down nearby fencing and used it to block streets. Police responded with tear gas and water cannons in an effort to disperse the crowds.

The protests, which began as a response to university conditions, tuition fees and perceived neglect of youth, have broadened to demand better opportunities, anti-corruption measures and the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama. Hundreds of students rallied on Wednesday, continuing the momentum of earlier demonstrations that started on Monday.

Deputy Prime Minister Albana Kociu posted on Facebook, "Protesting is a legitimate right, but it cannot be used as an excuse for violence, city destruction or ugly fighting in the middle of the road. I call on students and every honest citizen who believes in the right to protest: distance yourself from violence and vandalism!"

Besar Likmeta, editor at the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network, told Al Jazeera that the unrest follows four months of daily rallies known locally as the “Flamingo Revolution,” which originally opposed a resort project linked to Jared Kushner and later expanded to broader anti-corruption and youth disenfranchisement concerns.