EFJ leader reacts to Dimal Basha: BOL MA, Kurt take action immediately

Ricardo Gutierrez, secretary general of the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), has expressed deep concern over the attacks by Vetevendosje Movement MP Dimal Basha.

Gutierrez has also mentioned Basha's earlier attacks, which he has also asked to stop in Albanian.

Mr. Basha, I ask you to stop the investigation and attempts to discredit journalists and journalists' organisation. Enough is enough. Or should I speak in your language: BOL MA. This is simply unacceptable in democratic countries”, the EFJ secretary wrote in a Facebook response.

How dare you behave like this while your country is fighting for membership in the Council of Europe? Your irresponsible behaviour is damaging the reputation of Kosovo”, he added.

Gutierrez has called on Prime Minister Albin Kurti to take steps.

“I call on Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti to immediately take measures that members of his party stop continuing attacks against journalists and civil society”, he wrote.

Gutierrez says he hoped that LV would reflect after the bad news of Friday, where Kosovo marked a major regrass in the “Reporters without Borders” index for media freedom.

“I hoped Friday's bad news of the alarming negative level of media freedom in Kosovo would make Vetevendosje and its members reflect on their responsibility. I was wrong”, Gutierrez wrote.

Similarly, he recalled how MP Basha on World Media Freedom Day he accused RTK journalist that “is asking questions similar to those of Radio Television of Serbia!”

“AGK protected him and called on Mr. Basha to refrain from such dangerous language”.

On Saturday, Mr. Basha doubled the attacks on AGK and RTK journalist, linking them back to Serbia”, Gutierrez wrote.

He also mentioned that a few weeks ago, Basha “attacked the independent and respected chairman of the Independent Commission for Media, Jeton Mehmetin”.