Heritage
“Lute of the Highlands” monument damaged in Lezha; Rama: They don't know who Fishta is
A group of young people climbed onto the book-shaped monument during Monday's protest; municipal police stepped in to move them away.
By ANN Newsroom · Newsroom
October 20, 2026, 11:00 · Updated 12:21 · 1 min read
In brief
- During a protest in Lezha, a group of young people climbed onto the “Lute of the Highlands” monument and damaged it.
- Municipal Police officers persuaded the youths to climb down to prevent further damage.
- Prime Minister Rama linked the incident to a lack of knowledge of history and to TikTok's influence on young people.
The monument dedicated to the “Lute of the Highlands,” the masterpiece of Father Gjergj Fishta, located in the center of Lezha, was damaged Monday during a protest held by a group of young people in solidarity with the protest in Tirana.
Footage published by the media shows young people, apparently no older than about 15, climbing onto the book-shaped installation, jumping on it and kicking it. According to reports, Municipal Police officers intervened and talked with the group until it agreed to leave, so that further damage could be avoided. The reports do not mention any arrests.
Rama's reaction
Prime Minister Edi Rama commented on the incident Tuesday during a meeting with Tirana high school principals at the Ministry of Education. He said the footage had troubled him and that the act goes beyond damage to a cultural work. According to him, the students involved do not know who Fishta is, which he described as “dramatic ignorance.”
Rama linked the behavior to social media, especially TikTok, arguing that their algorithms pull young people away from reality and calling for a common front against the messages children receive from them. He stressed that most students are not involved in such behavior.
The incident has also drawn reactions in the press. In a piece published in Gazeta Tema, the author asks whether Lezha's high school students know Fishta and calls for reflection and a public apology if their involvement is confirmed.
