Massacre of Cërrik
1997 CE.
Shown on the map at 41.033°, 19.983°.
In 1997, Albania experienced a severe political, economic and security crisis after the collapse of large-scale pyramid investment schemes. The schemes had attracted deposits from a large share of the population and accumulated liabilities estimated at more than 1 billion US dollars, close to half of Albania's gross domestic product at the time. Their collapse triggered mass protests, especially in Vlorë and other southern towns, and developed into a broader rebellion against President Sali Berisha and the Democratic Party government. The crisis combined several factors: the collapse of the financial schemes, public anger over official tolerance of them, the disputed 1996 Albanian parliamentary election, weakening state institutions, political polarisation between the Democratic Party and the Socialist Party, and the rapid looting of army and police weapons depots. By March 1997, the government had lost control of large parts of the south; police and army units deserted or disintegrated in many areas, armed civilians and criminal groups seized weapons, and local Salvation Committees and gangs took over public functions in several towns.
Text from the Wikipedia article 1997 Albanian civil unrest, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.