A crowd of citizens took the streets on Monday in Vlora to protest against the reconstruction of Flag Square.
The project includes the construction of a platform and relocation of the four cannons which symbolized Albania’s four vilayets.
PM Edi Rama introduced last year in January a project that would see an 11-story hotel partially demolished.
But it seems that the project has been altered. The owners have been compensated, whereas the ownership of the hotel was transferred to the Albanian Development Fund.
Apart from this change, the project is surrounded by ambiguity.
Five citizens were prosecuted for organizing the protest which was initially announced on social media platforms.
They claim that their arrest comes as an effort to scare them away ahead of another protest planned for April 7.
Shqetësimet e ngritur nga protestuesit se në shesh do të ketë një terminal autobusësh dhe për mos shembjen e hotelit kanë marrë përgjigje nga kreu i qeverisë, Edi Rama.
Citizens are concerned that the square will be transformed into a bus terminal.
PM Edi Rama addressed on Twitter concerns over the demolition of the hotel.
He ruled out the construction of a bus terminal, meanwhile adding that the 11-story building will not be a hotel.
Rama is expected to travel to Vlora over the weekend to address these concerns.
Construction work is supposed to finalize before the 110 anniversary of independence and will cost around 9 billion Albanian Lek.
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