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STOP SILENCING THE PRESS: AN URGENT CALL TO DEFEND MEDIA FREEDOM IN ALBANIA
Sidorela V.
started this petition to
Albanian authorities
We express our deep concern over the recent actions taken against the Focus Media
Group in Tirana, targeting the television channel News24. In the early hours of 9 August
2025, State Police surrounded the building, cut the electricity supply, and took News24 off
the air. Journalists were barred from entering their newsrooms, halting editorial work and
depriving the public of timely information.
The operation was carried out without prior notice, absent any publicly available court decision, and at a time when staffing levels and public attention were at their lowest. To date, the authorities have provided no legal justification for this unprecedented intervention.
This represents the third attempt in recent years to silence an independent television outlet in Albania, following the closure of Agon Channel and the attempt to close RTV Ora. In 2025, Albania ranked 80th in the World Press Freedom Index published by Reporters Without Borders. The report highlights the concentration of media ownership in the hands of individuals with political affiliations and warns of persistent political pressure on journalists, particularly during election periods.
The recent closure of outlets linked to the opposition, together with earlier actions such as the pre-election shutdown of TikTok, underscores a troubling trend of increasing censorship and the erosion of democratic norms. Almost all of the remaining media is tied to the government and serves to amplify its messaging.
We call on the Albanian authorities to immediately restore the full operations of these outlets, guarantee unrestricted access for journalists, and publicly disclose the legal basis for their actions. Freedom of the press is a cornerstone of democracy and an essential condition for Albania’s European integration.
While Prime Minister Rama promotes an image abroad of openness and progress, the measures taken at home raise grave concerns about freedom of speech and the press, at a time when democracy in Europe and globally is under significant strain.
We express our solidarity with fellow journalists in Albania and we encourage all relevant institutions to protect media independence, uphold democratic principles, and ensure the people of Albania's right to free, diverse, and independent information.
in solidarity,
The operation was carried out without prior notice, absent any publicly available court decision, and at a time when staffing levels and public attention were at their lowest. To date, the authorities have provided no legal justification for this unprecedented intervention.
This represents the third attempt in recent years to silence an independent television outlet in Albania, following the closure of Agon Channel and the attempt to close RTV Ora. In 2025, Albania ranked 80th in the World Press Freedom Index published by Reporters Without Borders. The report highlights the concentration of media ownership in the hands of individuals with political affiliations and warns of persistent political pressure on journalists, particularly during election periods.
The recent closure of outlets linked to the opposition, together with earlier actions such as the pre-election shutdown of TikTok, underscores a troubling trend of increasing censorship and the erosion of democratic norms. Almost all of the remaining media is tied to the government and serves to amplify its messaging.
We call on the Albanian authorities to immediately restore the full operations of these outlets, guarantee unrestricted access for journalists, and publicly disclose the legal basis for their actions. Freedom of the press is a cornerstone of democracy and an essential condition for Albania’s European integration.
While Prime Minister Rama promotes an image abroad of openness and progress, the measures taken at home raise grave concerns about freedom of speech and the press, at a time when democracy in Europe and globally is under significant strain.
We express our solidarity with fellow journalists in Albania and we encourage all relevant institutions to protect media independence, uphold democratic principles, and ensure the people of Albania's right to free, diverse, and independent information.
in solidarity,
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(Updated )
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