Ahead of the World Press Freedom Day, Kosovo has plummeted 24 spots on the annual Reporters Without Borders (RSF) World Press Freedom Index, landing at 99th place—its lowest rank yet and the worst in the region. The drop has triggered alarm bells among media organizations, culminating in a public outcry from the Association of Journalists of Kosovo (AGK), which blames the ruling Self-Determination Movement (Vetëvendosje) for the decline.
Tensions escalated further today when the outgoing Prime Minister Albin Kurti’s security detail physically blocked a journalist from asking a question about the very report that spotlighted media repression in Kosovo.
AGK Rings the Alarm
Standing on the steps of the government headquarters in Pristina, the AGK convened an urgent press conference to denounce what it called an “alarming” deterioration of media freedom in Kosovo. The association pointed to a pattern of hostility toward the press under the Kurti-led government, including political labeling of journalists as “collaborators of the enemy,” politicization of media regulation, and increasing legal threats.
“This is the lowest ranking Kosovo has received in the last ten years,” AGK stated. “It is a direct result of the increasingly hostile policies pursued by the government against independent media.”
The RSF report cited a litany of challenges: politically motivated lawsuits (SLAPPs), restricted access to public documents, surveillance of journalists, and an unsafe environment for reporters. A new media law passed under Kurti’s administration, which critics say further politicizes the Independent Media Commission (IMC), was singled out as a major step backward.
Journalist Blocked from Questioning Kurti
In an incident that underscored the report’s findings, journalist Genc Godanci of T7 television claims he was physically restrained by one of Kurti’s bodyguards while attempting to ask a question about the RSF ranking. The incident, captured on video and widely shared on social media, shows a member of the prime minister’s security detail grabbing Godanci’s arm and preventing him from approaching.
“I’m sure someone from the PM’s staff instructed this behavior toward the press,” Godanci later said online.
The AGK condemned the obstruction, calling it a blatant violation of press freedoms. According to the organization, not only was Godanci grabbed, but a second bodyguard also physically blocked his path.
“This is not the first time journalists have been physically obstructed while trying to do their jobs in the presence of the prime minister,” AGK added, urging both the Kosovo Police and Kurti himself to ensure journalists can operate freely in public spaces.
A Press Under Pressure
Despite Kosovo’s diverse and dynamic media environment, the RSF report paints a bleak picture. It describes a fragmented and politically pressured market, especially for Serbian-language media, which face discriminatory access to public information and rely heavily on foreign funding to remain independent.
The report also highlighted the looming threat of politically charged rhetoric, with journalists increasingly targeted by disinformation and verbal attacks online. Independent outlets such as BIRN, KoSSev, and Kosovo 2.0 were praised for their contributions but noted as vulnerable in an increasingly hostile environment.
Moreover, while Kosovo’s laws formally protect press freedom, their implementation remains weak. Defamation is decriminalized, but journalists often face SLAPP suits designed to intimidate and drain resources. Copyright laws are seldom enforced, and public broadcasting is under political pressure.
Rexha: Shocking – Time to Address the Report, I Propose a Working Group
The President of the Association of Journalists of Kosovo (AGK), Xhemajl Rexha, described Kosovo’s latest ranking in the World Press Freedom Index as “shocking,” following a drop of 24 places compared to the previous year.
Speaking to the media, Rexha said the AGK views this development as a reflection of Prime Minister Albin Kurti’s government policies.
“On behalf of the AGK Board of Directors, we have gathered to voice our position regarding the alarming decline in Kosovo’s ranking on the Reporters Without Borders list – a drop of 24 positions compared to last year, when Kosovo had already fallen by 19. This is a shocking result, placing Kosovo last in the region. There are several reasons for this,” Rexha stated.
He reiterated key concerns highlighted in the AGK’s official statement, including the controversial Law on the Kosovo Media Commission, which the AGK has criticized from the outset; the continued labeling of journalists as “collaborators of the enemy”; the lack of independence of the public broadcaster RTK; threats to journalists’ safety; the rise in SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) cases; and illegal surveillance of journalists.
Rexha proposed the creation of a working group to address the issues raised in the report and expressed the AGK’s readiness to cooperate with all stakeholders in the process.
“The AGK sees this ranking as a result and reflection of what happened over the past year – a government-led campaign against the media. The climate is hostile to journalists, and the language of intimidation peaked between November and December and is still ongoing. This is the last moment for us as a society to reflect. The AGK calls for joint efforts, including the formation of a working group to address these findings and to improve media freedom and journalist safety in Kosovo,” he said.
“We have seen no changes,” Rexha added.
“Since the report was published in May, the situation has only worsened. Hostile rhetoric toward journalists has escalated. Now is the time for all of us to reflect and change course. Vetëvendosje must stop targeting journalists,” he stressed.
Rexha also noted that following the release of the report and his public statements, both the AGK and he personally were subjected to attacks. “We’re used to it, but we should not be,” he concluded.
Although Prime Minister Kurti remains silent, his associates do not. Several of them today openly criticized and attempted to discredit Rexha, his association, as well as Reporters Without Borders (RSF). Rexha himself confirmed that he has once again been targeted, while fellow journalists, media associations, and the regional platform Safe Journalists have come to his defense.
Kusari: Once a Leader, Now at Its Lowest Ranking
Media expert Flutura Kusari also reacted, highlighting that Kosovo has been ranked 99th this year — its lowest position since 2015 — falling behind countries such as Angola, Mozambique, and Mongolia, which, unlike Kosovo, have shown progress.
According to Kusari, the reasons for this significant decline include: political attacks on journalists, including baseless accusations of “collaborating with the enemy”; the situation at Radio Television of Kosovo (RTK); the Law on the Independent Media Commission; media boycotts during the election campaign; failure to implement the Law on Access to Public Documents; surveillance of journalists; the lack of prosecution for attacks by police and prosecutors; and SLAPP lawsuits — strategic lawsuits against public participation.
“Kosovo was once a regional leader in media freedom – now it holds its lowest position since this index has been measured,” Kusari warns.
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