The Association of Journalists of Kosovo (AGK) stated today that Prime Minister Albin Kurti used the podium in the Kosovo Assembly to continue his attacks on media outlets and journalists. During the session, Kurti spoke about the “invisible inflow of money” into the media, claiming that such manipulations originate from “enemies of Kosovo.” AGK’s reaction followed immediately after his address.
AGK: Continuation of Campaign Against Media
According to a statement by the Association, Kurti’s rhetoric represents a continuation of his party’s and government’s multi-year campaigns targeting journalists and media, aimed at undermining independent reporting.
“AGK calls on the Government of Kosovo to engage in a transparent process for drafting the new Law on the Independent Media Commission, involving all stakeholders in the discussion, to stop political pressure on the public broadcaster RTK, and to immediately abandon organized campaigns that denigrate media and journalists,” the Association said.
The post was shared by Fljutura Kusari, legal adviser at the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom, who has publicly called for the completion of the committees discussed today in the Assembly, including those responsible for selecting members of the Independent Media Commission and the RTK Board.
On today’s parliamentary agenda, among other topics, lawmakers discussed the formation of ad hoc committees for appointing members to the Independent Media Commission and the Board of Radio Television of Kosovo (RTK). This debate comes nearly a year after the Constitutional Court annulled the previous law on the Independent Media Commission, passed during Kurti’s earlier mandate—a law strongly criticized by the media community as an attempt to politically influence media and restrict freedom of expression.
Note: Reports on whether the proposed committees or appointments were ultimately approved remain contradictory, and the outcome of today’s session is not yet confirmed.
Kurti: “Invisible Money” and “Accomplices”
During the session, Prime Minister Kurti renewed his accusations against media outlets:
“When money enters invisibly, it does not just buy media space, it buys influence, directs the narrative, and ultimately distorts citizens’ perceptions,” Kurti said.
He added that such manipulation “comes from enemies of Kosovo who find their accomplices within Kosovo itself.”
“Money in Bags”: From TV Studio to Parliamentary Podium
Kurti’s remarks largely echoed a controversy that emerged two weeks ago, when Kreshnik Gashi, editor-in-chief of the portal Kallxo, claimed on a television program that “money comes in bags,” accusing Serbia—specifically the BIA—of funding certain Albanian-language media outlets in Kosovo, as well as commentators and “experts” in TV studios.
These statements quickly circulated in political and media spaces, including being shared by Self-Determination party MPs on social media, culminating in the same rhetoric appearing today from the Prime Minister’s parliamentary podium. AGK had previously condemned such pressures and targeting of media at that time.
International Delegation Warned a Week Ago
Kurti’s renewed pressure, AGK noted, comes just seven days after an international delegation on media freedom visited Kosovo and issued serious warnings about the state of press freedom.
The delegation included representatives from multiple international organizations, including Reporters Without Borders and the European Federation of Journalists. In their report, they identified political pressure, verbal attacks on journalists, and attempts to increase control over media regulators—especially by Self-Determination—as key reasons for the deterioration of media freedom.
The delegation called for urgent political action and urged Kosovo authorities to cease attacks on media and establish mechanisms protecting free and independent reporting. They also requested that Kurti publicly condemn attacks on journalists during his meetings with them.
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