Human Rights Watch activist Fred Abrahams said democracy has not progressed in Albania since 2013 when Edi Rama’s Socialist Party won the elections and took the country’s lead. Speaking to the A Show on Syri TV, Abrahams did not spare criticism for Rama, saying he is an authoritarian leader.

“I am paying more attention to Albania and I am shocked to see the level this country has fallen. If you ask me if Albania is more democratic today than in 2013, I can answer no”, Abrahams told host Adi Krasta.

“Attacks against media, efforts to pass non democratic regulatory bills for the media, are essentially destructive. His despise of media, lack of respect, the way the National Theater case was dealt with, are shameful. It could be discussed whether a new Theater is needed, but the way the capital was treated, like it is a canvass where Rama may paint anything he wants, all these are parts of the heritage of authoritarianism in Albania”.