Sali Berisha, the Albanian opposition leader, was punched in the face by a male observer as he led a group of supporters to central Tirana on Tuesday (6 December) in support of anti-government protests that were taking place simultaneously with an EU summit.
Tirana was host to the first EU-Balkans summit. Leaders of European Union member countries attended, and thousands of supporters of the opposition gathered there to protest the government of Prime Minister Edi Rama’s administration and demand early elections.
Berisha, the leader of the centre-right Democratic Party, was walking in front his supporters waving EU and Albanian flags. A man approached Berisha and punched him in face.
Berisha was covered in blood, but he addressed the protesters on the main square while police in anti-riot gear watched.
“Our nation is disappearing… Albania’s worst existential threat in its history.” Berisha assured the crowd that they would save Albania, promising to end poverty and crime which are driving people out of the country.
Berisha supporters beat the attacker and he was taken into police custody.
According to police, the attacker was a violent criminal with a long history. Prime Minister Edi Rama condemned the attack.
Berisha is a former prime minister and president of the United States. He has been banned from entering because of alleged corruption. Berisha denies all charges.
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