Ilir Mirena, the director of the Pristina-based portal Periskopi, has received death threats, prompting a strong response from the Association of Journalists of Kosovo (AGK). The organization has urged the Kosovo Police to conduct an urgent investigation and called on the government to refrain from fostering hostility against journalists and media outlets.
The Trigger: A Critical Joke
The threats emerged after the portal Nacionale published Mirena’s critical remark on social media.
The comment was aimed at a recent photo of Kosovo’s Prime Minister Albin Kurti with well-known singer Edona Llalloshi, who was announced as a candidate for Kurti’s Vetëvendosje (Self-Determination) Movement in the upcoming elections.
A comment from a Facebook user, identified as Visar Kabashi, stated, “This man deserves a bullet.”
Mirena responded by sharing a screenshot of the comment on his Facebook page, accompanied by the message: “Militants are getting nervous. Keep that energy when the police and courts call you. Don’t be cowards there.”
AGK’s Immediate Condemnation
The AGK condemned the threat, categorizing it as a death threat in their public statement. They expressed grave concern over the life-threatening nature of the message and highlighted the increasing frequency of such incidents targeting journalists in Kosovo.
“This threat is a continuation of other similar threats recently directed at journalists and activists. We once again urge the Kosovo government and ruling party to reduce hostile rhetoric against journalists and contribute to creating a safer environment for media professionals,” AGK stated.
A Pattern of Escalation
This is not an isolated case. Earlier this month, Berat Buzhala, director of the Nacionale portal, also received death threats on Facebook.
Like Mirena, Buzhala shared evidence of the threats before the user’s profile disappeared. The individual later contacted Buzhala, claiming their account had been hacked.
Buzhala handed the case over to authorities, but noted, “These are the consequences of the Prime Minister’s public denunciation of journalists. Someone believed it.”
Both Mirena and Buzhala have linked these incidents to the charged political climate. Mirena used the term “militants,” often associated with Vetëvendosje activists, while Buzhala referred to “Vetëvendosje trolls” as a source of constant online harassment.
Government Rhetoric Under Scrutiny
These incidents coincide with remarks made by Prime Minister Kurti, who has increasingly targeted the media in public speeches.
During a recent Vetëvendosje meeting, Kurti accused Kosovo’s media of spreading “hate” against his party while failing to criticize Serbia.
He described the media as “malicious” and accused them of propagating “falsehoods about Kosovo” and “slander against our people.”
Following the sabotage at the Ibar-Lepenac canal, Kurti also linked some media outlets to what he called a “hybrid war” against Kosovo, urging citizens to rely only on official government statements.
Worsening Media Freedom
The AGK has been vocal in condemning such rhetoric, warning that the government’s actions and tone are contributing to a deteriorating environment for press freedom.
They have criticized verbal and physical attacks on journalists, government pressure through legislative proposals, and inflammatory language from officials.
Kosovo’s global ranking in media freedom has dropped 19 places in the latest Reporters Without Borders index.
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