A damning new report by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has sparked a political storm in Kosovo, after the country recorded its worst-ever performance on the World Press Freedom Index—plunging 24 spots to 99th place globally, the lowest ranking in the region. In response, government spokesperson Përparim Kryeziu said a detailed letter would be sent to RSF to “clarify the situation.”
The report, published ahead of World Press Freedom Day on May 3, paints a bleak picture for press freedom in Kosovo, following last year’s steep drop of 19 positions. The findings have ignited fierce backlash from journalists’ associations and civil society.
Kosovo Journalists Association (AGK) immediately sounded the alarm, holding an emergency press conference in front of the government building. Their message was clear: Vetëvendosje’s leadership bears direct responsibility for the deteriorating media climate.
AGK also called on the government to stop discrediting journalists and instead take responsibility for the country’s sharp decline in press freedom. Similar condemnations came from the Association of Journalists of Serbia (UNS), the Journalists’ Association of Kosovo and Metohija (DNKiM), and the regional Safe Journalists network, which described attacks on AGK as “deeply disturbing.” Media expert Flutura Kusari warned that such rhetoric from officials is “dangerous.”
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.
While Prime Minister Kurti has remained silent, other officials from the outgoing administration and his party have taken to social media and the press—not to address the findings—but to attack the credibility of the media itself.
Government spokesperson Përparim Kryeziu, among others, claimed that the real issue lies not in political interference but in the alleged decline of professional standards among journalists.
In a series of posts on social media platform X last night, Kryeziu expressed “respect” for RSF but dismissed the organization’s findings as disconnected from reality.
He argued that Kosovo remains a place where “you can write whatever you want about the government, at any time, without consequence,” and announced that the government would be sending a detailed letter to RSF to “clarify the situation” and offer firsthand evidence.
Kryeziu reiterated the administration’s stance that media in Kosovo face challenges such as opaque ownership structures, external interference—especially from actors linked to Serbia and indirectly to Russia—and structural issues tied to evolving business models that undermine investigative journalism.
Moreover, he emphasized Kosovo’s low number of recorded press and media freedom violations, citing praise from the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom. He insisted that every threat against journalists in Kosovo is “immediately and seriously investigated,” a claim he said journalists themselves could verify.
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