The Ombudsman Institution monitored the protest organized by the Democratic Party on the evening of February 28, 2026, held on the “Dëshmorët e Kombit” Boulevard in Tirana, as well as in several other state institutions along its route.
The monitoring group inspected the Tirana Police Stations where temporary detentions of persons were found, including a minor.
The monitoring identified several procedural issues, especially in Police Station No. 4, where temporarily detained persons were not given a charter of rights and were not immediately guaranteed the right to contact their families.
Also, the lack of a functional heating system in the detention facilities was found, as well as the lack of the presence of a psychosocial worker in the case of the detained minor.
The Ombudsman has addressed these issues by leaving recommendations for the State Police, requesting rigorous respect for the procedural rights of detained persons.
The Ombudsman remains committed to monitoring respect for the fundamental rights and freedoms of citizens to guarantee the exercise of the right to peaceful assembly.