- A rush of people to board the fishing boats in Durrës 4 victims were killed - The first hours of the evening were quite tense in Durrës. Hundreds and thousands of people headed toward the port, with the aim of leaving for Italy. The crowd, gathered so densely that it looked like a white river in motion, made every effort to climb aboard the boats. The rush began in the afternoon and continued throughout the night, forcing the police and army units to intervene in order to bring the situation under control. Most of those who wanted to flee were young people, but there were also women and children in the crowd. Many of them came from different parts of the country. According to port sources, several fishing boats were the crowd’s main target, while other people tried to force their way onto any possible vessel. In the first clashes there were injuries and later, according to initial data, 4 deaths were recorded. Witnesses describe scenes of panic, screams and people crushed by the crowd. The port and surrounding roads were blocked for hours. The local authorities appeared powerless in the face of this uncontrollable wave of departure. Many citizens accused state structures of having deliberately left the gates open and allowed this situation to develop, turning the event into a new national hemorrhage. GENC TIRANA

(continued on page 4) It will be difficult for me, even in telegraphic form, to describe in full detail the dramatic events that have taken place here in Gjirokastër. These are events that, as is known, began in the first days of February, with some act of vandalism and small protests, and then turned into a violent outburst against the state. This so-called popular revolution has taken on terrible forms. Buildings have been burned, institutions raided, numerous vehicles destroyed, arms depots looted and weapons have fallen into uncontrolled hands. In the city, an atmosphere of fear and insecurity prevails. In these circumstances, the security forces have often found themselves defenseless, while the state has come under extraordinary pressure. What is most serious is that in this wave there has been a clear coordination of the attacking groups, which have acted with defined objectives. From what I have been able to see with my own eyes, many of the attackers were not simply angry ordinary people, but individuals who knew exactly what they wanted: to strike the state, paralyze the administration and sow panic. The civilian population, on the other hand, has been placed between fear, lack of information and propaganda. On the streets one can see improvised patrols, while important buildings have been left without protection. In villages and towns many rumors circulate, often unverified, but they increase the general anxiety. The lack of official communication has opened the way to gossip and disinformation. It is clear that this is not only a spontaneous revolt. Here there is an aggressive coordination against democracy, against institutions and against the constitutional order. Those who have taken upon themselves to fuel this fire bear a heavy historical responsibility. Citizens want peace, order and security. Albania cannot remain hostage to violence. Every day that passes without a solution increases the moral, political and human damage. (continued on page 4)

(continued on page 5) After the revolt began [?-] ... Vlorë has been portrayed in these days as one of the most dramatic centers of developments. The events that took place there have taken the form of a disgusting scenario, in which violence, manipulation and criminal interests have been mixed together. The evidence speaks of attacked institutions, destroyed buildings and weapons taken from the depots. In many cases, the crowds were led by elements who seem to have had clear objectives. This was not simply an outburst of anger, but an organized action aimed at driving the situation toward chaos. The city, left for hours and days in insecurity, experienced panic and a complete lack of control. The residents felt unprotected, while the news coming from every neighborhood worsened the situation even further. If the state does not react quickly and decisively, the consequences of this scenario will be even more serious.

(continued on page 4) The role, the farce of that [?-] reached the boundaries [?-] ... In an unusual version of political declarations, the opposition has continued to move between calls for calm and the stirring up of discontent. Their speeches, delivered in cities and from podiums, have been filled with accusations, insinuations and demands for resignation, creating a heated atmosphere. Instead of helping to normalize the situation, some opposition politicians seem to take advantage of the confusion that has been created. They appear as defenders of the people, but at the same time they encourage opposition to the institutions. This political duplicity is costing the country dearly. Their positions shift according to immediate interest. When the situation becomes tense, they speak of moral responsibility; when violence escalates, they fall silent or speak indirectly. These maze-like bravados have only one purpose: to gain political capital from the national catastrophe. In the current climate, citizens need clarity and seriousness, not word games and petty party calculations.

(continued on page 4) The misconduct of anti-government circles [?-] ... In this heated political climate, figures have also emerged who behave like commissioners of a new parallel power. They issue orders, declare people guilty and claim to speak in the name of the people, without any institutional legitimacy. These self-proclaimed actors are fed by propaganda and by the weakening of the rule of law. Instead of helping pluralism, they distort it, turning it into a tool of pressure and political blackmail. Pluralism cannot survive without institutions, without law and without respect for the vote. Whoever seeks to replace it with street commissioners or crowd tribunals is, in fact, working against democracy itself.

(continued on page 9) I had heard, as had others, people shouting to abandon Tirana, to leave the capital, because a dark scenario was being prepared there. But what I saw in the streets, at stations, in families and neighborhoods, was something deeper: insecurity had entered people’s minds and was pushing them toward departure. There is no calm in the capital. Businesses close early, institutions work intermittently, citizens keep their eyes on the news and on the noises of the night. People are no longer sure what will happen the next day. There are families packing their belongings, others taking women and children to relatives, young people seeking any means to leave the country. Fear has become a daily element of civic life. It is not only the lack of political stability that is pushing people toward mass abandonment. It is also the loss of faith that things can improve quickly. This is perhaps the most serious consequence of the crisis. If Tirana loses its stability, the whole country will feel the blow many times over. That is why stability is no longer just a political term, but a vital necessity for Albanian society.