Klevi Metaj, a student at the University of Tirana, has become one of the most commented names after Tuesday's student protest, where clashes with the police were accompanied by scenes of violence.
Images of him confronting Rapid Intervention Forces (RINF) officers have sparked numerous reactions on social media, where the young man is being seen as a symbol of protest and confrontation with the blue uniformed force.
Metaj is the son of Brikena Metaj, a News24 correspondent in Gjirokastra. In videos released from the protest, he is seen walking on the sidewalk when a police officer hits him. Moments later, the student is seen in a physical altercation with several FNSH officers, who are wielding rubber batons.
Later images show the young man handcuffed to the railings of the Ministry of Education, while other photographs show him with visible signs of violence inside a police van.
The episode has received particular attention on social media, where users have described Metaj with the phrase "Law student in search of justice."
The student protest initially began with calls for the resignation of the Rama government, which the young people have accused of being solely responsible for the current state of education, inequality, and the lack of meritocracy that forces young people to emigrate.
Dozens of citizens were forcibly escorted to the police station, while others, including journalists, were injured.