The Information and Private Agency condemns RTK, who hid the budget for the Song Festival

Kosovo Radio Television has been fined by the Agency for Information and Privateness because it has hidden the budget dedicated to organising this year's edition of the Song Festival.

The Express newspaper has secured the announcement of the fine's pronunciation, which AIP has sent to RTK deputy general director Ad Krasta. The public broadcaster could be punished from 3,000 to 10,000 euros ) this would be determined after RTK returns.

Media lawyer Butter Kosari had complained at AIP about RTK's lack of transparency over the festival's budget, voicing doubts about its management.

“As a result of failure to implement A-873/2024 AIP decision on RTK's part, the Agency for Information and Privateness, implementing Article 3 of Article No.06/ L-081 for Access to Public Documents, announces the main public institution administrative official, who has not implemented this decision, to use an additional 7 (seven) deadline to improve the violation listed in the high-profile decision before he pronounces administrative fines, according to Article 1 of Article 32 of Law No.06/ L-081 for access to Public Documents”, AIP's announcement of the fine's pronunciation says.

The AIP has found that RTK as the public institution “has not offered access (through responses) to the complaining side, in carrying out the decision of the binding character mentioned above, but has chosen to offer rational clarifications, which the supervisory authority has found to be ground-instance”.