The Association of Journalists of Kosovo (AGK) has condemned comments made by Faton Peci, the Vetëvendosje candidate for South Mitrovica mayor, who accused TV Dukagjini of acting as an “operational center of a criminal enterprise” during the October 12th local elections. AGK described Peci’s remarks as “a serious campaign of intimidation.”
Peci made the allegations in a Facebook post earlier today, claiming that the broadcaster’s commissioned voter turnout surveys were not used to measure citizens’ will but rather to “create a false narrative about the results, discourage my voters, and demotivate members of election boards and observers in Mitrovica.”
He went on to assert that the process was allegedly overseen by the incumbent South Mitrovica mayor in a technical mandate, Bedri Hamza.
According to Peci, his supporters and election team members received anonymous phone calls throughout election day, were “misinformed and disoriented,” and that this, he claimed, helped prepare the ground for “criminal turnout surveys.”
He further accused TV Dukagjini of airing these surveys accompanied by “offensive, mocking and tendentious comments.”
AGK: “A deeply irresponsible communication with dangerous potential”
Responding to Peci’s statements, the AGK said that the Vetëvendosje candidate was conducting “a serious campaign of intimidation” against the media outlet.
“These are low and unacceptable attacks on TV Dukagjini,” the association said, calling Peci’s accusations “irresponsible” and “very dangerous.”
“AGK considers Mr. Peci’s communication deeply irresponsible and his allegations extremely dangerous. It is unacceptable for a politician like Mr. Peci to use such serious accusations against a media outlet as part of his political struggle and that of his party,” the association stressed.
AGK called on both Peci and Vetëvendosje to immediately withdraw their public accusations against the television station and its journalists, warning that such statements “serve as an incentive for continued attacks against them.”
This latest controversy comes after AGK also reacted to remarks made by Vetëvendosje leader Albin Kurti, who called on “judicial and security authorities” to investigate three television stations that published exit polls predicting potential electoral upsets unfavorable to his party.
At the time, Flutura Kusari, legal adviser to the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom, urged authorities to “stay away” from the idea of probing exit poll reports or the companies conducting them.
After South Mitrovica Vote: Peci Targets Journalists, Media Groups Warn Of Intimidation
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