In 2021, 29 cases of threats, attacks and links to journalists were recorded

Journalists in Kosovo, except threatened, are attacked and lynched by different interest groups.

The Association of Kosovo Journalists AGK has so far recorded a total of 29 cases of threats, attacks and links to journalists during 2021.

We have recorded three attacks on journalists this year, attacks on media and media organisations has been a case. Other threats to journalists are thirteen, threats against the media and media organisations are two cases and threats against journalists' lives are ten cases of”, said a response by AGK.

According to AGK data, of all kinds of incidents on newspapers in 2020 were recorded 24 cases or 5 less than in 2021, 21 recorded in 2018.

Data on investigative attacks and actions on these attacks also provides prosecutors in Kosovo, and several charges have already been filed.

However, statistics on penalties related to these attacks in courts are not provided by the Kosovo Judiciary Council.

According to the KDR, cases are classified only according to criminal acts and not the victim's profession in this case. According to this institution, data can only be sought for individual cases.

The work of Kosovo courts for resolving and condemning attacks on journalists is not viewed as ideal activists and representatives of the journalists' community.

In the latest Reporters Without Borders' report on press freedom, published on April 20th, Kosovo was ranked 78th, eight worse positions than the previous year, respectively.

In the latest report by the US State Department (DASH) on human rights in the world, for 2020, when it comes to Kosovo, in the part about freedom of expression and the media, it has been said that reliable reports exist that some public officials, politicians, businesses and religious groups have tried to intimidate media representatives.

Some journalists were attracted by critical investigative reporting, due to fear of their physical safety or work safety”, said the UN report.

In this report, it has also been said that some journalists have complained that owners and media managers have prevented them from publishing or broadcasting critical material to the government, political parties or individual officials.