Furious residents hurled Molotov cocktails at police and demolition teams in Albania’s northern Theth region on July 12, as Prime Minister Edi Rama’s latest crackdown on illegal construction ignited violent protests and raised concerns over the country’s image during the peak tourist season.

The violence followed Rama’s announcement of a renewed push to dismantle illegal constructions across Albania, targeting both informal housing and unpermitted businesses. 

“The occupation of public spaces in any city will no longer be tolerated,” Rama said this week, as he presented new measures to local mayors in Durres, according to a government statement. These include a digital monitoring system for construction sites, mandatory GPS and camera surveillance, and stricter penalties for violations.

Video from the scene showed a bridge in the Gjelaj neighbourhood set on fire after an unidentified man threw a Molotov cocktail at police officers stationed nearby. No injuries were reported, but the attack prompted a rapid deployment of heavily armed officers and specialised police units from Shkodra and Tirana. 

Elsewhere in Theth, a Molotov cocktail was thrown at a vehicle escorting officials from the National Inspectorate of Territorial Defense (IKMT), which is overseeing demolitions of structures built without permits. The vehicle sustained minor damage, and demolition operations continued under police protection.

Opposition figures, including Democratic Party leader Sali Berisha have accused the government of heavy-handed tactics. Pictures posted by Berisha on Facebook show a scuffle between police and the Democratic Party’s Luciano Boçi and MP Bardh Spahia, claiming the newly appointed police director in Shkodra threatened to drag them away during confrontations with locals. Another video shows armed police escorting an excavator. 

“Tourists leave in panic,” wrote Berisha. “I condemn with the greatest force the state terror of Edi Rama and his gangs in uniform against the residents of Theth.” 

Theth, a rugged alpine village renowned for its dramatic peaks and traditional stone houses, has seen a sharp increase in tourism in recent years. However, rapid development and unregulated construction have outpaced local infrastructure and planning. Residents argue that many of the targeted structures are essential guesthouses and family businesses that provide livelihoods in the remote region.

The crackdown has already triggered a wave of reservation cancellations from tourists, local operators said, as reported by Top Channel TV. 

While Albania has long struggled with illegal construction, critics argue that the government’s approach unfairly targets ordinary citizens while allowing politically connected developers to circumvent regulations, according to an exposé published by the Albanian Center for Quality Journalism in 2023.

Under a 2022 government decree, developers who exceed their permitted building limits can have the additional space confiscated and then repurchased at market value while paying a fine, effectively legalising violations without criminal consequences. Meanwhile, under Albania’s criminal code, individuals who build without permits on private or public land face prison sentences of up to five years, or up to eight years if the construction is deemed profit-driven or has serious consequences.

Thousands of Albanians have spent years attempting to legalise homes, while others have faced prosecution for minor violations, such as adding windows or building small structures on their land.

While the violence in Theth has captured headlines, the IKMT and municipal police are continuing demolition operations in other parts of Albania, including Durrës, where authorities have removed unauthorised kiosks and structures near the train station and cleared tables and tents illegally occupying sidewalks along Epidamn Boulevard. 

Similar actions were recently carried out at Kavaja Rock, a popular seaside location, where illegal beachfront structures were demolished. In smaller operations, police removed unauthorised sun-loungers and umbrellas from beaches in several tourist hotspots, according to a series of police announcements. 

Rama’s government argues that reclaiming public spaces and enforcing building codes are critical steps in Albania’s European Union integration process and necessary to protect public interest and the environment. 

However, the timing of high-profile demolitions during the summer tourism season has raised questions about their impact on Albania’s tourism sector, has emerged as an important pillar of the country’s economy.

On top of the violent clashes in Theth, the American Chamber of Commerce in Albania warned on July 10 that water supply issues, pollution, and infrastructure shortcomings are negatively affecting the quality of life and the operational environment for businesses, including those in the hospitality industry.