6 minutes agoGovernment Kurti is attacking media-Opositors, activists alarmed after press freedom report
Periskopi(2 years ago)
(2 years ago)Kosovo's 19-nation decline in the organisation's annual press freedom index, Reporters without Borders, is considered disturbing and alarming to the media in the country. In the annual report, where Kosovo ranks 75th out of 180 countries, journalists reportedly continue to be the target of political attacks. Kosovo Journalists Association Chairman [...]
Kosovo's 19-nation decline in the organisation's annual press freedom index, Reporters without Borders, is considered disturbing and alarming to the media in the country. In the annual report, where Kosovo ranks 75th out of 180 countries, journalists reportedly continue to be the target of political attacks. Kosovo Journalists' Association Chairman Xhemajl Rexha argues that the condition that disagrees with the policies of Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, and the government he heads, “risks being tarnished and discredited online”.
Citing attacks on journalists, he urged the government to act.
“should be an alarm for those who have influenced different forms in this, and here at the most, I am talking about Kosovo institutions and especially the Government of Kosovo. The journalists' security has certainly been a concern last year, it has continued to be this year. We took over 30 attacks last year within five weeks in northern Kosovo, including physical attacks, property damage and labour means of journalists, violating journalists' physical integrity as never before”.
Kosovo Government spokesman Progress Kryeziu said the Reporters Without Borders report should not be discouraging, since it argues it has not been an easy year, due to the escalation of the situation in northern Kosovo, inhabited by Serb majority.
At that, opposition parties have sharply criticised the power to attack the media. PDK leader MemliKrasniqi said the government's increased pressure on independent media and targeting our country's journalists is a growing threat to press freedom and free speech”.
Even the Democratic League of Kosovo expressed concern over the findings of Reporters Without Borders' report, while Alliance for the Future of Kosovo leader Ramush Haradinaj said protecting free journalists and media is among the “and non-negotiable priorities” and the task of institutions and society. At that, Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani voiced support for journalists and for protecting their right to report without fear or censorship on World Press Freedom Day.
