Former Albanian president, Sali Berisha has been left with a black eye after he was punched in the face by a thug today during an anti-government protest in the capital of Tirana.
The opposition leader, 78, was leading protesters to the venue of a summit of EU leaders and their Western Balkan counterparts in Tirana when a 31-year-old man emerged from the crowd and attacked the politician on Tuesday, December 5.
erisha received a powerful punch before his bodyguards rushed to subdue the attacker.
Police said the suspect who was taken into custody had suffered from 'psychiatric irregularities' and had previously faced charges involving acts of violence and drug trafficking.
Thousands of opposition supporters gathered in the city as Albania hosts its first EU-Balkans summit, attended by leaders of European Union member states, to protest against the government of Prime Minister Edi Rama and demand early elections.
The opposition were protesting against the alleged corruption of Rama, which they also blame for the country's cost-of-living crisis and the exodus of young Albanians leaving for a better life in Western European countries.
Mr. Berisha accused Mr. Rama of the attack, saying he wanted to stop the opposition from staging the protest.
Mr. Berisha said the attack was a 'criminal act against him instigated by state police.'
Albania's socialist Prime Minister Edi Rama 'unequivocally' condemned the incident.
'Violence has not been, is not and never will be a tool to solve a problem or a concern and anyone who uses it must face the force of the law,' Rama said in a statement.