The State Police Director General, Skënder Hita, has defended the police’s use of crowd-control equipment, including rubber bullets, during protests, saying the devices are certified and comply with standards applied in European Union countries.

Hita said police had used only legally authorized equipment and that its deployment had been limited. He stressed that officers relied exclusively on designated tools certified for such purposes.

The police chief also addressed the participation of minors in protests, urging parents and family members to prevent children from taking part. He warned against minors being used as human shields by violent individuals.

“I urge parents and family members not to allow minors to become involved in protests. They must not be used as human shields by violent individuals,” Hita said.

He added that police would continue to enforce the law and protect citizens’ lives and property.

“Police have always used authorized police equipment. All the equipment used has been deployed in a limited manner. We use only designated equipment, as in EU countries. The police use equipment certified for this purpose,” Hita stated.

Hita’s remarks come amid public scrutiny over the use of police crowd-control measures during demonstrations, particularly the deployment of rubber bullets.