The International Press Institute (IPI) today joins Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) partners and the SafeJournalists Network (SJN) in raising alarm over numerous incidents of intimidation and obstruction faced by journalists covering the Albanian parliamentary elections.
Since the 11 May election, at least 20 journalists and media entities have reporting interference and pressure, including from public officials. All incidents were captured in multiple videos.
Throughout election day, at least five journalists covering the vote experienced alarming incidents across the country, including verbal abuse, physical aggression, and interference in their reporting. Incidents documented by the MFRR and SJN on that day include the physical assault of journalist in Gjirokast毛r, the forced deletion of recorded materials from 鈥檚 phone in Pogradec, and a violent involving Syri TV’s Ambrozia Meta and crew by Socialist Party MP Erion Bra莽e, during a live broadcast from an unofficial electoral office in Tirana.
Journalists also faced arbitrary restrictions by voting center staff in violation of Albania鈥檚 electoral code. Accredited media observers in Durr毛s were reportedly from documenting voting, while in Saranda, Euronews Albania’s Enriko Gaba was allegedly to 15 minutes of filming, again in violation of the official rules, which permit media workers access. Gaba had previously obstruction from elected officials during the municipal elections in August 2024.
In the context of elections, public officials have a particular duty to ensure transparent electoral processes, allowing journalists to scrutinise campaigns, voting procedures, and vote counts without hindrance or violence. These incidents raise concerns regarding the state of press freedom and the free flow of information in Albania, with authorities failing to provide the environment for fair, balanced reporting and transparency during the electoral process.
Following the voting results, other incidents have been reported involving officials of the opposition Democratic Party of Albania (DP). At least 10 verbal abuses were as journalists were covering the party鈥檚 defeat. Among them, Democratic Party General Secretary Flamur Noka repeatedly and denied questions to Report TV and A2 CNN journalists. During the Democratic Party protest organised on 16 May to denounce alleged electoral fraud, Euronews Sara Demushi had her badge for the concurrent European Political Community Summit by party official Edi Paloka. This physical confrontation, along with insults and obstruction of recording by other party officials, fueled hostility from DP supporters in the protest, some journalists, including Demushi, to leave for their safety.聽
Therefore, the MFRR and SJN call on Albanian authorities to ensure prompt, thorough, and independent investigations into all reported cases of violence, intimidation and obstruction against journalists by public officials and private individuals.聽
In the wake of the election, the MFRR and SJN urge the re-elected Socialist Party administration to take concrete steps to strengthen press freedom in Albania, and for all political parties to聽 refrain from interfering with journalistic work and to publicly condemn all forms of hostility against the press.
Signed by
Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR)
European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)
Free Press Unlimited (FPU)
International Press Institute (IPI)
Osservatorio Balcani Caucaso Transeuropa (OBCT)
European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF)
SafeJournalists Network (SJN)
Association of Journalists of Kosovo
Association of Journalists of Macedonia
BH Journalists Association
Croatian Journalists鈥� Association
Independent Journalists Association of Serbia
Trade Union of Media of Montenegro
This statement was coordinated as part of the 聽(MFRR), a Europe-wide mechanism which tracks, monitors and responds to violations of press and media freedom in EU Member States, Candidate Countries, and Ukraine. The project is co-funded by the European Commission.
