Wife of Albania’s president detained during clashes over National Theatre demolition
By Alessio Dellanna
The wife of Albania’s president was detained along with more than 30 others during a protest against the demolition of the National Theatre in Tirana yesterday. Monika Kryemadhi is also an MP and leader of the Socialist Movement for Integration party. Television footage showed Kryemadhi being put into a police van.
In 2018, Albania authorities decided to tear the building down and shut it due to its poor conditions. But the decision was opposed by groups of artists who wanted it to be renovated and kept using it.
During the demolition, protesters tried to break through the police cordon and officers used pepper spray against them. Artists and opposition leaders joined the protest.
Police said the detained protesters were released shortly afterwards but were reminded that no mass gatherings are allowed under the country’s current lockdown state.
During the clashes, two policemen were injured.
