Albanian actors and artists have warned Premier Edi Rama they are ready to defend the National Theatre even with their blood if that would be necessary. The actors warning came after the ministry of culture ordered the depletion of the building.

Albanian government and Tirana’s Municipality have planned to pull down the house of the National Theatre near the centre of the Albanian capital and build a commercial center, which has been contested by the artists and the civic society.

“They want to steal the area of the Nation Theatre to launder their dirty money”, actor and director Edmond Budina told the Voice of America. “Let them make this step and they’ll see our reaction, we will all be here. The President of the Republic has rejected twice the law that in a criminal and mobster way plans to pull down the theater. This hypocrisy must end and Tirana’s citizens must react and give a response to it”.

Another notorious director, Kastriot Çipi, was even harsher in his statement. As per Çipi, the demolition of the building hardly will happen before September, but it may happen through “accidental” arson. In this case, Çipi warned the same “accident” might happen to some mansion in Surrel, implying Premier Edi Rama’s dwelling place, in a village east of Tirana.

“The arsonists must know that an accidental fire at the Theatre might happen also in some mansion in Surrel. Experience has shown fires are set where there are no people present of working”, Çipi said.