The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) has issued a sharp condemnation of what it described as a „disgusting campaign“ of harassment and intimidation against journalists in Kosovo, drawing comparisons to tactics used in authoritarian regimes.
The rebuke came from EFJ Secretary-General Ricardo Gutiérrez following harsh reactions from the government of Kosovo and the ruling Vetëvendosje Movement (LVV) to the latest Reporters Without Borders (RSF) World Press Freedom Index. Kosovo has dropped 24 places this year, landing at 99th—now the lowest-ranked country in the region for press freedom.
“This harassment and intimidation are worthy of the worst authoritarian regimes,” Gutiérrez declared, directly blaming outgoing Prime Minister Albin Kurti and calling him an accomplice to the growing hostility against the media.
Last year, Kosovo had already seen a significant decline in the RSF index, falling 19 places to 75th. In contrast, 2023 had brought a modest improvement when Kosovo climbed from 61st to 56th place.
The Association of Journalists of Kosovo (AGK) sounded the alarm on the latest drop, holding an emergency press conference outside the government headquarters. The association placed primary responsibility on Kurti’s administration and his Vetëvendosje party. AGK president Xhemail Rexha called for the formation of a special working group to address the crisis.
Kurti himself avoided media questions on the report, while his security officers were caught on video pushing journalist Genc Godanci as he attempted to question the prime minister about the alarming press freedom ranking.
While Kurti remained silent, the acting government and Vetëvendosje officials lashed out—against the media. Rather than acknowledging any responsibility, they accused journalists of unprofessionalism and of spreading disinformation, implying that the RSF report was a consequence of poor journalism rather than government hostility.
The response from Kurti’s office attempted to reframe the narrative, with his chief of staff claiming that the Kurti administration has been the most transparent toward the media and proudly noted they had not „spent millions on propaganda.“ Meanwhile, a government spokesperson asserted that press freedom in Kosovo is not under threat—only that some media outlets are prioritizing profit over professionalism.
In an escalation of tensions, several Vetëvendosje-aligned officials targeted AGK president Rexha with personal attacks. One even attempted to undermine Reporters Without Borders, questioning the credibility of the organization and the significance of its report.
Gutiérrez was quick to respond: “The European Federation of Journalists strongly condemns the disgusting campaign by members of Prime Minister Albin Kurti’s party. We consider him complicit in these outrageous actions.”
He emphasized that personal attacks on journalists are attempts to prevent them from doing their job and continuing to serve the public’s right to information. “We will not fail to report this disgraceful behavior to the Council of Europe, the European Union, and the Party of European Socialists,” he warned.
He concluded with a stinging remark: “Shame on LVV and Mr. Kurti.”
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