Photo: Protestors hold a massive Ukrainian flag during a rally in front of Russia's Embassy in Tirana. - Copyright GENT SHKULLAKU / AFP
Tirana, the capital of Albania, renamed a section of a street on which the Russian embassy is located to show solidarity with Ukraine.
The city's Mayor, Erion Veliaj, announced that the new address would now be Rruga Ukraina e Lirë (Free Ukraine Street), following Russia's invasion.
He said:
"The Russian [embassy staff] will have to work, live and get their mail at a Free Ukraine street address."
The particular part of the street has the embassies of both Ukraine and Russia, as well as, Kosovo and Serbia.
The street was previously named after the Albanian nobleman, Donika Kastrioti, who was also the spouse of the Gjergj Kastrioti Skenderbeu, the country's national hero who fought against the Ottomans in the 15th century.
The local council of Tirana approved the decision to rename the street unanimously.
A post shared by Erion Veliaj (@erionveliaj)
Prague and Vilnius also renamed streets that lead to Russian emassies, now calling them, 'Ukrainian Heroes Street'.
The @CityOfTirana will name a street segment on embassy row "Free Ukraine"
— Erion Veliaj #EYC2022 🇪🇺🇦🇱 (@erionveliaj) March 5, 2022
Coincidentally, the Ukranian, Russian, Serbian & Kosovar Embassies are on that row
The Serbia war on Kosovo & the Russian war on Ukraine have defined our generation
This street will define our city 🇦🇱🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/mWjBwnoWg0
Riga's deputy Mayor also announced in a tweet that the Russian embassy would be renamed 'Ukraine Independence Street'.
Local authorities in Albania have said that approximately 1,500 families in Tirana have expressed willingness to host Ukrainian refuges fleeing their country.
Numerous public and private organisations in Albania have also been raising humanitarian aid to assist Ukraine.
[Based on reporting by: euronews.]
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