The leader of the Democratic Party, Sali Berisha, today called on citizens to participate in tomorrow’s protest against the banning of TikTok. Berisha stated that the ban on the application is an act of government censorship.

“Tomorrow is a day for all of us to protest for freedom of speech. To protest against censorship. To protest against a corrupt government that seeks to control the information citizens receive. During my decades under dictatorship, the thing I hated most was censorship—the restricted library collections that could only be accessed with special authorizations, otherwise, you couldn’t even touch them. But Edi Rama has gone even further by censoring TikTok, the most modern means of communication today, solely due to his intolerance toward the criticism he receives on this platform.”

Berisha assured students and young people that TikTok would be available on their phones again by May 12.

“I guarantee all students in Albania—elementary and high school students, university students, and others—that on May 12, TikTok will be back on their phones and computers. Edi Rama will be severely punished for this unconstitutional act, a mega-crime of enormous proportions. Therefore, in respect of free speech and liberty, let’s set everything aside and protest tomorrow at 7 PM in Skanderbeg Square in Tirana. Let’s gather from all over Albania, especially young people. This is your protest. Tomorrow, your voices will be heard. Tomorrow, freedom of speech will have its defenders. So let’s all come together in support of this cause,” Berisha declared.