Cases

The Association of Journalists of Kosovo was concerned to receive the news of the threat against the journalist, Diamant Bajra. In the announcement addressed to AJK, it is reported that Bajra received threatening messages after his last show where he discussed the circulation of counterfeit money. “Following the show “Counterfeiting endangering Kosovo” broadcasted on “Kanal10” television, Bajra published “TikTok” profile an excerpt from the show, wherein he received a…

Luan Dalipi - Chief of Staff of Prime Minister Kurti, through a Facebook post today unprecedentedly attacked Kosovo’s media by linking them to "criminal businesses", and calling on those he distinguishes as "dignified citizens” to boycott them. AJK considers that such a public call by Prime Minister Kurti's closest ally in the Government is very dangerous, and an open call for denigrating language towards journalists. Mr. Dalipi's language is a continuation of the attacks…

The Association of Journalists of Kosovo is concerned about the cyber-attack towards “Buletini Ekonomik”, and “Buletini Newsletter”. According to the Buletini’s staff: “On 25.02.2022, the two main pages of Buletini Ekonomik on Facebook were attacked. Both sites “Buletini Ekonomik”, and “Buletini Newsletter”, are not in our management. The case was reported last night to the Kosovo Police and has given a statement regarding the attack. " AJK condemns this attack and calls…

A team of RTV Dukagjini, consisting of journalist Liridon Llozani and cameraman Diamant Maxharraj were physically attacked today while reporting in Pejton, Prishtina for the declaration of revenues at Tax Administration of Kosovo. The owner of one of the bars where the team was shooting, at first tried to stop them from performing their duties, and then physically assaulted the cameraman, Maxharraj. The team immediately called the Police, who arrested the perpetrator.

Kosovo’s First Gentleman, Prindon Sadriu, used denigrating language towards journalists and media in Kosovo, labeling them “a joint criminal enterprise”. “When representatives of a Joint Criminal Enterprise, ‘journalists’ of informal politics, people involved in racketing and misuse of millions, give lessons. These are the people who slander who paid 1.200 US Dollars for a night at Hotel Interconntinental Manhattan, or paid a breakfast $50 per person (their lunches and…

The Kosovo Police have arrested today in Suhareka the cameraman of the news agency, Ekonomia Online, Albion Selitaj, while he was performing his duties as cameraman, reporting from the action of the Police in "NBI Suhareka". AJK strongly condemns the unprofessional behavior of Kosovo Police officials, furthermore demands his immediate release. AJK expects of Kosovo Police that instead of obstructing media workers on duty, to provide safe environment for media workers when…

The journalist and editor of the portal "Indeksonline", Alban Muhaxheri, informed AJK that he was interrogated for several hours at the Police Station in Kaçanik, after writing about a member of the Police on a local Facebook page. According to Muhaxheri, he was asked to remove the writing or he would be held in custody for 48 hours. AJK condemns the invitation of the Police to interrogate the journalist and sees this as open pressure on the work of the media. AJK also…

Adriatik Kelemendi - Journalist from Kosovo, has reported that he was questioned by Serbian Information Agency (BIA) agents, in his most recent trip to Belgrade. According to Kelmendi, he has faced similar situations of being interviewed by agents in all of his trips in Serbia in the last years. Kelmendi was asked for clarifications about his public statements. AJK deems this behavior unacceptable coming against a journalist and a regional reconciliation activist. AJK calls…

Paparaci.com journalist and founder, Vehbi Kajtazi has informed the Association of Journalists of Kosovo that he received over 100 online threats after his statements about “Kumanova Group” in a RTV Dukagjini show. “Since Monday I have received hundreds of threats from different people. These threats were also fueled by members of the convicted group who can freely write and go live on TV from their prison cells. Today, I officially opened a case in Police against some 100…

#mekryeministrin Facebook group has continued the smear campaign against journalists. This group which functions in support of the ruling Vetevendosje party and PM Kurti, continuously smears journalists of different media outlets. Immediately after reopening, the group administrators launched a new series of attacks by labelling some part of media as “Klan Pronto” media. The public support from the Vetevendosje MP, Fitore Pacolli for this group and this kind of language…

The editor-in-chief of the newspaper Bota Sot, Idriz Morina, has received a phone call with threatening messages to him and his family because of his writings. Morina has notified the Police about this threat, and after that the Kosovo Police has started the investigative procedures. AJK condemns this threat, and calls upon the Kosovo Police to treat it with priority.

Klan Kosova and RTV Dukagjini team, who went to the scene to report live about the armed robbery on the Prishtina-Gjilan district were obstructed and fined by the Kosovo Police. Journalist Flamur Gajtani, cameraman Arben Kajtazi, and the driver Gazmend Salihu from Klan Kosova and journalist Mehmet Krasniqi and the cameraman Visar Kryeziu from RTV Dukagjini were stopped and then fined when they tried to go through an alternative route to reach the scene. The road was allowed…

A team of journalists from Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty was among those attacked by local protesters in north of Kosovo. AJK is alarmed that a group of 50 people surrounded the vehicle in which the team was traveling, and demanded them to stop filming. In trying to take the camera away, they damaged it and the taxi as well. Fortunately, the team members managed to escape unhurt.

The official of Vetëvendosje and the former candidate of this party for MP, Hysamedin Feraj, used threatening language against some journalists. In a Facebook post, Feraj accused some Kosovar journalists of "working for Serbia for free". "It is not fair that Grenell gets paid and the Grenellists don't (?) Or Kosovo owes Serbia and they pay it off by working it for free!", wrote Feraj. Such language, especially when it comes from the official of a ruling party, endangers the…

Albulena Rexha - journalist at Kanal10 ,was attacked during reporting live in North Mitrovica. The Association of Journalists of Kosovo - AJK, is alarmed that journalists reporting from north of Kosovo are still in risk for doing their job. Our colleagues are being attacked continuously by local protesters, who are throwing different explosive devices towards them. Once again, we call on relevant authorities to ensure a safe environment for journalists while on duty.

The journalists of of the news website "Gazeta Sinjali", have been threatened by killing and insulted by relatives of the people who were arrested yesterday by Kosovo Police suspected over plots to carry a terrorist attack in Kosovo. AJK finds it extremely disturbing and completely unacceptable that journalists continue to be target of such threats. Therefore, we call upon the competent authorities to protect the journalists and this online news media in order to prevent any…

Several journalists of different Albanian media were attacked in the "Bosniak Quarter" in Northern Mitrovica and another incident occurred on the road that leads to Leposavic where protesters chased cars with journalists. Meanwhile, there were attacks and pressures on journalists of local news portal "Kossev", by protesters. As a result, the news website has withdrawn its teams reportimg from the field.

The branch of the Democratic League of Kosovo - LDK, in Suhareka, has lynched the journalist, Uran Haxha. The branch of the political party LDK in Suhareka last night via a Facebook post, has lynched the journalist Haxha as "the counselor from the underground of Bali Muharremaj", the opponent of this political party, and that according to them due to Haxha's presence in the debate, the debate devalued. For AJK, it is extremely concerning that a political party categorizes…

The Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama, has used a selective approach towards the journalists from Kosovo, who were part of the press conference with the German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Kosovo was an important part of the discussion at this press event, and according to our colleagues, PM Rama didn't allow the Kosovan journalists to address questions to Mrs. Merkel. For AJK, such a segregation of journalists at an international meeting is an unacceptable act. The Secretary…

The adviser of the President of Kosovo, Blerim Vela has used lynching vocabulary towards media. The adviser of the President Vjosa Osmani, Blerim Vela, on several occasions has used denigrating language, labeling the media as "of the former Pronto regime". AJK considers this as lynching and a language that serves to spread hate and incites attacks on journalists and media in Kosovo. Coming from the highest state office, these actions of Mr. Vela have an impact towards the…