The leader of the Democratic Party, Sali Berisha, during a live connection on Facebook, held a conversation with citizens where he spoke about Friday’s protest. Berisha described February 20 as a day of triumph, referring to the protesters as peaceful uprisers.

According to him, the police used violence against the protesters and attempted to intimidate minors into admitting that they had been paid to participate in the protest.

“Yesterday was a day of triumph for the undefeated peaceful uprisers, who confronted the narco-state tooth and nail for three hours in an epic battle against the illegitimate government of Tirana, against Edi Rama, Lubi Balluku, their electoral farce, and their unrestrained theft.

The courage of the peaceful uprisers was, I can say, extraordinary. The most prominent feature of February 20, 2026, was that young people and teenagers, through their resistance, courage, and bravery, became the terror of the regime and the true beautiful face of the opposition and the uprising.

For three hours, on the boulevard, in front of parliament, and on the streets of Tirana, an unprecedented battle took place. The regime used all means of violence, sparing not even rubber bullets, with a sniper targeting the head of our candidate for MP in Shkodër, the well-known intellectual, Mehmeti.

But police violence and terror did not spare teenagers or minors. Protesters were shot with gas canisters aimed at the back of their heads. Others were struck in the head while lying on the ground.

Yet they remained undefeated. They attempted to intimidate minors and force them to admit they had been paid to join the protest, at a time when they were simply returning from school after having eaten something together, and today they are at the police station,” Berisha said.