Edi Rama announces measures imposing up to €5,500 fines for property damage during protests

On 25 October 2026 Prime Minister Edi Rama unveiled a package of measures aimed at curbing what he called "violence and urban anarchy," including fines of up to €5,500 for people who damage other people's property during demonstrations.

New penalties, compensation fund and registers

At a press conference Rama said the person who caused the damage must pay, and stressed the steps were not targeted at peaceful demonstrators. He announced an emergency compensation instrument for small businesses, designed to help those hit by thefts, robberies and fires.

"The normative act for urgent compensation of damage to small businesses constitutes financial support for those affected by thefts, robberies and fires. With this law, the state will cover from 70 to 100 percent of the damage to business owners whose property is damaged," Rama said.

The package also includes a special law for damage remediation, amendments to the law on assemblies, a dedicated electronic register of urban offenders, changes to the ethical code for teachers and proposals to amend the Criminal Code.

Rama said the law applies to all gatherings in public spaces, whether announced, banned or spontaneous. "No one pays for damage for protesting or for attending any kind of gathering. This responsibility to compensate for the caused damage arises exclusively from the individual's personal behaviour, and this law does not limit the freedom of assembly and expression," he added.

He warned that anyone who takes part in a violent gathering and does not leave after police orders to disperse will be held financially responsible. "Anyone who chooses to remain in a crowd or group that throws stones, burns, smashes and destroys will be held responsible," Rama said.

The prime minister clarified that journalists, doctors, observers, on-duty employees and passers-by will be exempt from the rule. He said the measures were developed with European experts and with Italian and French partners, and that each proposal complies with Article 47 of the Constitution of Albania, Article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights, Strasbourg Court jurisprudence, the Venice Commission and ODIHR guidance on freedom of peaceful assembly.

Rama also announced that parents will be fined if it is established their children under 14 caused damage. He said he is willing to listen to citizens' criticisms of the government but insisted that a demand for his resignation "cannot be imposed by force."

Photo: press material from the event