Erjon Vishkulli: eye injury from rubber bullet, Tirana protest, 24 Oct 2026
Status: Criminal case reported opened (Tirana Prosecution, procedure no. 7806/2026, reported); outcome unknown as of 31 Oct 2026
Summary
Erjon Vishkulli, 28, was hit in the eye by a rubber bullet during the student protest in Tirana on 24 October 2026, according to BalkanWeb's 25 October 2026 interview with a doctor and the family. He was sent to Italy for specialist treatment. Albanian outlets report that the Tirana prosecution opened a criminal case and that the State Police opened a separate inquiry. Prime Minister Edi Rama's comments about his transfer abroad were criticised by the doctor and the family. Which eye, the distance and the circumstances of the shot are not stated in the sources reviewed.
Case details
- Location
- Tirana, Albania (protest of 24 Oct 2026)
- Person injured
- Erjon Vishkulli (name as published; some outlets spell it Erion or Vishkullit)
- Injury
- Hit in the eye by a rubber bullet (BalkanWeb, 25 Oct 2026). Reported as the left eye by Albanian Daily News and a search summary of Albanian reporting. Doctor (Ermal Pashaj, as quoted) said the injury needed specialist surgery not available in Albania. A hemorrhage during surgery is reported only by an aggregator and is not confirmed.
- Police statement
- No police statement on this specific shot was found in the sources reviewed. A search summary reports that a special-force ('Shqiponjat') officer was suspended after footage surfaced; this is a headline-level report not verified on the page.
- Prosecution file
- Tirana Prosecution Office, procedure no. 7806/2026, under articles 248 and 250 of the Criminal Code (as reported in a search summary of Balkanweb; the cited page was not opened, so treat as single-source)
- Prosecution status
- Opened (reported). No charges reported as of 31 Oct 2026.
- Footage
- No footage of the shot was identified in the sources reviewed. Sister's and family's statements and a BalkanWeb headline mention images shared after surgery in Italy; not verified.
- Official response
- PM Edi Rama criticised protesters and was reported to have boasted of sending him to Italy (headline; the article body does not quote him). Dr Ermal Pashaj said Albanian medicine could not treat this injury domestically and criticised Rama. The sister asked that the case not be used for propaganda (Balkanweb summary). European Democrats reportedly called for an independent investigation (search summary, not verified).
- Outcome
- Ongoing. Sight outcome not reported in sources reviewed.
The record
Four lists kept apart on purpose: what is established, what is only alleged, what is still open, and what those concerned said.
What is proven (0)
Established by documents or official records, as stated in the research. A recorded charge or indictment proves only that the accusation was made.
Nothing recorded in this list.
What is alleged (0)
Accusations, not findings. Those accused are presumed innocent.
Nothing recorded in this list.
Open questions (0)
Nothing recorded in this list.
Responses (0)
Responses of the people and organisations concerned, as recorded.
Nothing recorded in this list.
Sources for this record
Every source the research cites for this record, grouped by its source label. 3 sources.
Source label: Under investigationUnder investigation · 3 sources
- Rama mburret se dërgoi Erjon Vishkullin në Itali... (Dr Ermal Pashaj interview) (opens in a new tab)
- Publisher
- BalkanWeb (News24 interview)
- Date
- 25 Oct 2026
- Football Fan Risks Losing Sight After Being Hit by Rubber Bullet During Protest (opens in a new tab)
- Publisher
- Albanian Daily News
- Date
- Oct 2026
- Publisher
- BalkanWeb
- Date
- Oct 2026