Albania / Europe & Central Asia

  
CPJ and representatives from other free expression organizations meet with Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama on June 20, 2019, in Tirana. (Flutura Kusari)

Press freedom situation worsening in Albania, joint mission finds

Press freedom in Albania is deteriorating, the Committee to Protect Journalists and six other international press freedom and freedom of expression organizations said in a statement released yesterday.

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Police officers arrest a protester in Tirana, Albania, on April 13, 2019. Several journalists were injured during the demonstrations. (AFP/Gent Shkullaku)

Journalists injured during anti-government protest in Albania

On April 13, 2019, Albanian police fired tear gas into a crowd during a demonstration in the capital, Tirana, affecting several journalists, according to news reports and video footage of the protest.

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Protesters wave Albanian flags in Tirana, Albania, on March 16, 2019. A British journalist living in Albania has recently been attacked in a smear campaign after she gave comments on the RT network. (Florion Goga/Reuters)

British journalist in Albania targeted in smear campaign

British freelance journalist and blogger Alice Taylor, who writes for various international publications and for the Albania-focused news website Exit, has been targeted in a smear campaign by pro-government news outlets in Albania and had her residency permit renewal denied, the journalist told CPJ.

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Journalist severely beaten, hospitalized in Albania

New York, March 9, 2017–Albanian authorities should thoroughly investigate yesterday’s attack on investigative journalist Elvi Fundo and swiftly bring those responsible to justice, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Two unidentified assailants beat Fundo, who runs the news website Citynews.al and Radio Best, with crowbars near a train station in the capital, Tirana.

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Balancing Act

Joining the club: accession and press freedom Accession to the EU is often described as one of the most effective democracy promotion projects in the world. Countries vying for membership must prove themselves on a range of political and legal criteria that include provisions on standards for human rights, freedom of expression, and press freedom.…

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Attacks on the Press 2009: Europe and Central Asia Developments

ATTACKS ON THE PRESS: 2009 • Main Index EUROPE and CENTRAL ASIA Regional Analysis: • Why a killing in Chechnya is an international issue Country Summaries • Armenia • Azerbaijan • Belarus • Croatia • Georgia • Kazakhstan • Kyrgyzstan • Russia • Ukraine • Uzbekistan• Other developments ALBANIA The independent daily Tema was abruptly…

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Tirana attack prompts comments from editor, businessman

Our news alert on Wednesday detailing a vicious attack on Albanian editor Mero Baze elicited e-mail comments from both victim and a businessman accused in the attack. Baze said he is recovering but is experiencing head pain. He also echoed reported witness statements that identified Rezart Taci, a principal in local oil companies, as being…

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Albanian editor attacked following critical reports

New York, November 4, 2009—Assailants badly beat Mero Baze, chief editor of the independent Albanian daily Tema and host of the prime-time television show “Faktor Plus,” at a bar in the capital, Tirana, on Monday, according to news reports. The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the attack and calls on authorities to bring the assailants…

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Police block newspaper staff from entering offices

New York, January 9, 2009–The Committee to Protect Journalists is disturbed that the Albanian authorities today blocked the offices of the daily Tema, which recently published stories alleging official corruption.

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Bomb damages office of popular daily newspaper

New York, December 19, 2005—An explosion on Sunday evening damaged the Tirana headquarters of Shekulli, Albania’s most popular independent daily, but staff members escaped injury, according to international press reports. Editor-in-Chief Robert Rakipllari said 15 staff members were working when the bomb exploded outside the newspaper building, The Associated Press reported. No one immediately claimed…

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