2011 Albanian opposition demonstrations

2011 Albanian opposition demonstrations
Devastation in Albanian capital, 21 January 2011
Date	21 January 2011
Location	Albania
Caused by	Ilir Meta corruption video
Methods	Demonstrations, strike action, riots.
Resulted in	Resignation of the deputy prime minister Ilir Meta
Lead figures
Edi Rama Sali Berisha, Prime Minister Lulzim Basha, Minister of Internal Affairs Albanian Republican Guard
Number
20,000–100,000 protesters Unknown number of police officers
Casualties and losses
4 fatalities[1] 150+ injuries[2][3]

The 2011 Albanian opposition demonstrations (also known as 21 January events) were a series of anti-government protests in cities around Albania following 18 months of political conflict over alleged electoral fraud by the opposition. A video surfaced which portrayed the deputy prime minister arranging a corrupt deal with the minister of economy. The public outcry over the video resulted in the resignation of the deputy prime minister, Ilir Meta. A demonstration was called by parliamentary opposition parties, which include the Socialist Party and the Unity for Human Rights Party. These were called on 21 January in order to protest the alleged corruption of the Albanian government as well as widespread unemployment and poverty in the country.

On 21 January, a protest in Tirana led to the killings of three demonstrators by the Republican Guard during a rally in front of Prime Minister Sali Berisha office. A fourth person died several days later in a hospital in Ankara, Turkey.^[1]