“It is a severe moral blow to us,” says Mark Nika, uncle of Aleks Nika, after the bronze memorial plaques for the four victims of 21 January were damaged on Dëshmorët e Kombit Boulevard.
During a protest the previous day, three of the bronze plaques placed in honor of Aleks Nika, Faik Myrtaj, Hekuran Deda and Ziver Veizi were completely torn off, while Aleks Nika’s plaque was partially torn off and damaged.
In an interview from the site where his nephew’s memorial plaque is located, Mark Nika said he had learned of the damage from the media.
“Aleksi was killed on 21 January by the Republican Guard. As a sign of remembrance, this plaque was placed to commemorate the place and day of Aleksi’s killing. Today I learned from the media, dark forces, I don’t know who could have done it, they stripped it, they removed the plaque, to make us extinguish even this memory we have of Aleksi,” said Mark Nika.
He also pointed out the importance this memorial holds for the family, who stop there to remember Aleks Nika whenever they come to Tirana.
“The desecration is a severe moral blow to us. Aleksi does not return, but when we come to Tirana, we stop and remember Aleksi in the place where he was killed,” he said.
When asked whether the plaque should be repaired, Nika said he is convinced it will be reinstalled.