ALBANIAN ASSOCIATIONS IN THE UK

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                                                                                                                                London, 3 July 2026

To the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania

To the Assembly of the Republic of Albania

OPEN Letter

In support of peaceful protests and respect for citizens’ rights

Dear representatives of the Government and Assembly of Albania,

We, the Albanian associations and communities established and based in the United Kingdom, wish to express our support for the civic protests in Albania and to condemn the police violence against peaceful protesters.

The daily peaceful protests are revealing the essence of an increasingly conscious and organised civil society. Thousands of Albanian citizens — among them young people, parents, professionals and academics — have taken to the streets to defend the country’s natural resources, public spaces and the right to be heard by state institutions. These protests are the purest expression of democracy in action — the constitutional and democratic right of every citizen to voice their opinion and hold state institutions to account.

It is precisely for this reason that we strongly condemn any form of violence, intimidation or repression against peaceful protesters.

We call on the Albanian government to take seriously the core demands of the protest movements, which concern:

•  Full transparency regarding laws, decisions and contracts affecting environmental and nature protection — including projects impacting protected areas, coastal lagoons and the country’s water ecosystems;

•  Accountability of public institutions in relation to the sale or concession of state assets, ensuring that any such decision is subject to public scrutiny, prior consultation and parliamentary oversight;

•  Protection of the public interest as a fundamental and non-negotiable criterion in all economic development policy, rejecting models that prioritise narrow private interests over the collective good of society;

•  Genuine and constructive dialogue with representatives of civil society and the protest movements..

We respectfully invite the institutions of Albania to respond to these concerns through dialogue, accountability and full respect for democratic freedoms.

In anticipation of your immediate action,

Albanian associations and communities in the United Kingdom  

London, United Kingdom 

This open letter has been prepared by representatives of the Albanian community in the United Kingdom and reflects the collective concerns of the Albanian diaspora. It is addressed to the institutions of the Albanian state and has simultaneously been brought to the attention of the Albanian and international media, as well as representatives of the EU Delegation and the British Embassy in Tirana.

UKAP Foundation

Kosovar Albanian Youth Against Violence

Gjurmë Iliriane

British Albanian Culture & Arts Association

LSE Albanian Society 

Disaporas Speaking 

UCL Albanian Society