The US embassy is considering the chance of possible violence and other disturbances on April 25th, seeing that this has been the case during previous elections as well. In a statement shared with US citizens living in Albania, the embassy cautions its citizens about possible disturbances on elections day and some time after.
“Past elections have seen localized incidents of violence targeting election officials, those affiliated with political parties, and voting materials, which raises the prospect of possible violence or other disturbances on Sunday, April 25, or in the days following voting,” says the notice of the US embassy.
Even though no particular city is mentioned, the embassy’s statement speaks of the possibility of the spreading of protests across different areas.
“Demonstrations in one city have the potential to spark additional rallies in other locations around the country. Additionally, traffic in the area of the Embassy or central areas of large cities may be impacted by rallies or protests, leading to congestion and related delays,” says the declaration.
The expectation for the duration of the electoral process in Albania is several days.
Vote-counting could last for several days after Sunday’s election day.
Similar to all its previous notices for US citizens before protests, the embassy has advised them to keep a low profile and stay away from large gatherings or places where violence can erupt or has erupted.
