(Credit: Tirana Times)

The Albanian National Theater has been demolished.

After two years of unrest between the government and the people, the theater was finally destroyed on Sunday May 17 at 4:30 am. Before the building was demolished, citizens, artists and opposition party members lined up to protest the order. Dozens of citizens were then detained and arrested for resistance.

The building had been in discussion for two years when the government announced the project for its demolition and the construction of a new building which will be constructed by Fusha.

The destruction of the national treasure had Europa Nostra speak out stating “it was a sad day for cultural heritage as well as democracy and rule of law in Albania and Europe.”

The organization condemned the government while U.K. Embassy in Albania sited concern over a lack of dialogue between the people and the government.

The Theater was constructed in 1938 by architect Giulio Berté and had been considered one of the seven endangered monuments in Europe.