The government is expected to soon introduce a package of measures to curb violent protests and punish people who attack the police or destroy public and private property.
People involved in acts of violence will be registered in a special registry. The government is also working on a blacklist in the TIMS system, to ban violent protesters from entering European Union countries.
Prime Minister Edi Rama, during a meeting with bank representatives, said that cooperation with EU countries has begun. Restrictions on access to hotels, trains and other means of transport are also foreseen.
Parents will be forced to pay for material damages caused by their children during the protests. Rama also warned of the interruption of state services for the families of minors who burn other people's property. The government is also considering lowering the age of criminal responsibility, currently 14 years old.
Students involved in acts of violence against the police will have their scholarships and financial support from the state revoked.
The government is considering administrative measures for students who skip classes to engage in acts of violence, while teachers who incite students to commit violent acts risk being removed from the education system.
Participating in protests with a face covering is set to be considered a violation of the law. The government is announcing investments in technology to identify masked protesters, as well as people hiding behind anonymous profiles on social media and inciting violence.
"We will not only issue the package of measures an hour earlier, but by rapidly investing in technology, we will begin deanonymizing profiles that incite violence. By rapidly investing in technology, we will detect those who are wearing a hood, even if they stay in a hood, even if they cover their entire face, because we will follow them foot by foot. We will follow them foot by foot through the eyes of technology," said Rama.
Another proposal being studied is to ban the use of social networks for children under 16.
Measures announced by the government to curb violent protests:
1. Travel and access to services restrictions
- Creation of a special register with the names of persons involved in acts of violence during the protests
- Drafting a blacklist in the TIMS system for persons involved in acts of violence
- Cooperation with EU countries to prevent entry of persons identified as violent
- Restricting access to airports, hotels, trains and other means of transportation
2. Measures against minors and their families
- Obliging parents to pay for material damages caused by minor children during protests.
- Limiting state services for families of minors who burn or destroy the property of others.
- Reviewing the possibility of lowering the age of criminal responsibility, currently 14 years old.
3. Measures in education
- Removal of scholarships and state financial support for students involved in acts of violence
- Administrative measures for students who skip classes to engage in violent protests
- Removal from the education system of teachers who encourage students to participate in acts of violence
4. Prohibition of masking and identification of protesters
- Prohibition by law of participating in protests with a covered face.
- Using technology to identify masked protesters committing acts of violence.
5. Limiting social networks
- Reviewing the ban on the use of social networks for children under 16 years of age.