Media freedom in Kosovo has deteriorated since 2023 due to political pressure, particularly from the ruling Vetëvendosje party, an international media freedom mission concluded following a two-day visit to Pristina, while government representatives rejected the findings as inaccurate and overly generalised.
The delegation, composed of organisations partnering with the Council of Europe’s Platform for the Safety of Journalists, assessed that a previously stable level of media freedom “has been replaced by a period of deterioration over the past three years.”
They cited several key factors behind this trend, including attempts to increase political control over the Independent Media Commission through a media law later struck down as unconstitutional, political and financial pressure on the public broadcaster RTK, and a sustained rise in verbal attacks and denigration of journalists by ruling party officials.
“These developments have undermined Kosovo’s positive trajectory for press freedom and media development since the country’s independence,” the mission stated, warning that they have also tarnished Kosovo’s position as a regional frontrunner in media freedom within the EU accession process.
Rise in pressure, including toward non-majority media
Although Kosovo maintains a pluralistic media landscape, low levels of physical violence against journalists, and a legal framework broadly aligned with European standards, the mission found that pressure has intensified in other forms.
The number of cases involving denigration, discrediting and online harassment of journalists—particularly by political figures—has “dramatically increased” in recent years, peaking in 2025.
A particularly concerning trend, according to the delegation, is the use of “toxic narratives” by Vetëvendosje officials, portraying journalists who ask legitimate questions as Serbian “mercenaries” or foreign agents.
For Serbian and other non-majority media, these pressures are further compounded by threats from what the report describes as foreign governments, as well as limited access to public information in their languages.
Meeting with Kurti: calls to condemn attacks
During their visit, the delegation met with Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, urging him and other officials to set an example by condemning attacks on journalists and refraining from divisive rhetoric.
However, the mission concluded that the prime minister “did not commit to publicly condemning such attacks.”
Kurti did, according to the report, verbally guarantee that defamation would not be re-criminalised, though this was noted as being at odds with recent statements by senior Vetëvendosje officials.
Government response: “inaccurate generalisation”, focus on media ownership
Government officials disputed the mission’s conclusions, pointing instead to structural challenges within the media sector.
In a public response, Prime Minister’s adviser Zoja Surroi stated that the meeting with representatives of journalists’ organisations took place “precisely because the Prime Minister shares concerns about the media landscape in the country and supports the development of a more robust and fair media environment.”
She said discussions covered a wide range of issues, including disinformation, the decline of investigative journalism, media ownership transparency, and what she described as the influence of Serbian and Russian actors on the media landscape.
Surroi also raised concerns about “the risks posed by corporate interests and the rise of media oligarchs,” who, she said, use media outlets to advance economic interests and influence political agendas, “at the expense of public trust.”
In that context, she referred to an analysis by Euractiv, which examines the influence of powerful business actors over media ownership and editorial independence in Kosovo.
She further claimed that in recent years there have been “unprecedented instances” in which reports on individuals with significant business influence were published and then quickly withdrawn across multiple outlets, without reaction from relevant oversight bodies.
“It is therefore disheartening to see that the comments made amount to a broad and disparaging generalization which is, quite frankly, inaccurate,” Surroi said.
In a separate response, government spokesperson Perparim Kryeziu also urged the public to consult reporting that highlights the role of powerful business interests in shaping media narratives, pointing to coverage on media ownership and editorial influence.
The Prime Minister and members of the Government met with Ricardo Gutiérrez, General Secretary of the European Federation of Journalists, and other representatives of journalists’ organizations as part of their fact-finding mission. This engagement took place precisely because…
— Zoja Surroi (@ZojaSurroi) March 25, 2026
Structural challenges and recommendations
The mission acknowledged improvements in the judicial response to cases involving journalists, including faster court proceedings and the adoption of a new Kosovo Judicial Council strategy prioritising journalist safety, defamation and SLAPP cases.
However, it stressed that structural issues—such as lack of transparency by public authorities and blurred lines between media ownership and editorial policy—continue to undermine investigative journalism and public trust.
Concerns were also raised over the financial and political pressures facing RTK, including reported cases of programme cancellations and dismissals of presenters, although RTK management rejected claims of interference.
The delegation called on the government to align legislation with the European Media Freedom Act, ensure sustainable funding and independence of the public broadcaster, and adopt key laws on RTK and protection of journalistic sources.
EU path at stake
With media freedom described as a key pillar of Kosovo’s EU accession process, the mission warned that the government must take “significant” steps to rebuild trust and return the country to its previous trajectory of progress.
A detailed report with findings and recommendations will be submitted to the Council of Europe, European Union, United Nations and OSCE.
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