Albanian civil society denies government claims protests serve Russia – EURACTIV.com
Albanians have been protesting for more than a week against rising food, fuel and energy prices. The government, however, called them a national disgrace and said their protests served Russia and the Kremlin – a claim activists have entirely rejected.
The national statistics institute, INSTAT, found that the cost of 30 essential food items has increased by 40% since January 2022, including meat, dairy products, cooking oils and fruits and vegetables. The cost of fuel has increased by 40% and some are struggling to pay increased energy bills.
Demonstrations across the country have brought together students, farmers, activists and ordinary citizens in some of the largest nonpartisan demonstrations in recent years. Protesters say the rising cost of food, fuel and electricity is too high for one of Europe’s poorest countries, where a third live below the poverty line.
Prime Minister Edi Rama said protesters were mobilizing against the consequences of the war in Ukraine, which later turned into claims that protesters are paid to protest and “serve Putin”.
At one point, Rama even said – just a day before EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell arrived in Tirana on Tuesday March 15 – that a “Brussels official” told him the protesters were helping Russia’s cause. and wanted to know “who is organizing them?” “.
One of the organisers, academic, journalist and activist Rezearta Caushaj, told EURACTIV: “I am in no way supported, influenced or connected with Russia or anyone connected with Russia. I do not support the Russian invasion or the invasion of any other country.
“As someone whose family depends on two salaries that will soon lose value, I felt uncertain enough about the future to react,” she explained, adding that her extended family, including the pensioners and people with disabilities, is in an even more difficult situation. precarious situation. »
While the government has taken some steps to protect the most vulnerable in society, protesters say rising costs will force even those who were not previously at risk of poverty to choose between feeding their families or keeping their homes at home. hot.
EURACTIV asked the Commission if it thinks Albanian citizens support Moscow, but no response has been received at press time.
Protesters believe the government’s accusations come from a desire to deflect their other complaints – that Albanian politicians allow market manipulation at the behest of powerful oligarchs and are involved in corruption and financial crimes.
According to to several reports, including International TransparencyAlbania is considered to be at significant risk of state capture and the undue influence of business elite.
Struggling to make ends meet
Organizata Politike, a left-wing civil society movement involved in organizing the protests, also told EURACTIV they had nothing to do with Russia.
“We categorically condemn the invasion of Ukraine by Vladimir Putin, and we stand in solidarity with the Ukrainian people who are fighting for their freedom.”
Instead, they said, they are protesting in the hope of “cbringing the consolidated ruling elite in cahoots with a few oligarchs”.
They also warned that a 40% increase in fuel prices, equivalent to 20% of an Albanian’s daily income, is unacceptable.
“This is a speculative maneuver by Edi Rama and the oligarchs who control the fuel industry in Albania. This has caused a general increase in the prices of the basket of goods, which we consider criminal in a country where a third of the population lives below the poverty line, with the lowest minimum wage in the region,” a spokesperson explained.
They criticized the government for a series of inadequate responses – to the 2019 earthquake that killed 51 people, to the COVID-19 pandemic and now to the fallout from war.
“The general feeling of frustration in Albania stems from many years of dispossession of public resources for the benefit of a few individuals, as well as the government’s general incompetence in crisis management. Finally, people are responding,” they added.
[Edited by Zoran Radosavljevic]