Cases

Online newspaper “Insajderi” recevied death threats by an owner of a local company that was recently involved in the so-called ‘meat scandal’. The owner did not like the investigative reporting and called Insajderi by saying that he would kill everyone, and in particular the journalist that worked on the investigation. Authorities in Belgium said that “Veviba” has functioned in unacceptable sanitary conditions and has manipulated the meat content as well as misusing the…

Association of Journalists of Kosovo condemned the threat from a security member of the Kosovo Assembly towards journalists Lumturie Blakaj while she was covering the ThSQursday’s session. Blakaj said that she was verbally threatened by the security member while she was consulting an MP. Some other journalists witnessed the incident.

A Kosovo’s Assembly security guard forcibly removed a journalist from the building claiming that the journalist had an expired accreditation. The journalist told the security guard that no one from media has yet received 2018 accreditations from the Assembly.

Journalist Parim Olluri has been a target of lynching campaigns that denigrate him in several pages of Facebook. The language used against Olluri has to do with his articles and investigative reporting. Fan page “Albanian Real Facts” called Olluri a Serbian spy and aims to denigrate Albanian heroes. The comments in this posting contain several threats against Olluri.

The website of the talk show in Serbian languague “Slobodno srpski” was hacked four times within a short period of time. Budimir Nicic, author and moderator of the show claims that the attacks are as a result of a guest who was interviewed about the latest political situation in the northern part of Kosovo.

Association of Journalists of Kosovo was informed by its member, journalist Musa Sabedini to have received threats from urbanism director at Gjilan municipality, Valon Shefkiu. Sabedini said that the threat came after an article was published related to the work of the director Shefkiu, publish in Rajonipress news portal. AJK also understood that the official of Gjilan municipality was arrested by police and held in detention on remand. AJK welcomed quick reaction of police…

Association of Journalists of Kosovo was informed by journalist Mentor Gjergjaj that the bodyguard of deputy Prime Minister, Fatmir Limaj tried by force to delete some of the photos in journalists’ telephone. Journalist took pictures of Limaj when the latter was entering the president’s office. The bodyguard took a picture of journalist’s badge.

Association of Journalists of Kosovo strongly condemns the intimidation caused to the family of journalist Saranda Ramaj by a public official. Ramaj told AJK that Ejup Simnica, auditor at Office of General Auditor, went to her home in Peja and asked her parents saying that Ramaj should stop writing stories about him. She reported the case to Kosovo police.

Association of Journalists of Kosovo condemns the public lynch against journalist Arta Avdiu by assembly member at Pristina municipality, Jeta Rafuna from Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK). Rafuna through a posting in Facebook accused without any basis journalist Avdiu for close links to Self-determination movement by posting also a photo of her private life.

Association of Journalists of Kosovo is informed from its member Agim Ademi, correspondent of daily Koha Ditore that feels threatened and blackmailed by the citizen Naim Gashi, because of his articles related to a trial. Ademi said that it’s been a while that Gashi has made pressures against him because of stories related to him. The last pressure comes after the article was published in Koha Ditore which was about a decision from the Basic Court in Pristina that ordered…

Journalist Ardiana Thaçi-Mehmeti has been part of a lynching campaign by the head of Kosovo’s Air Navigation Services Agency, Bahri Nuredini. The latter decided not to provide any answers from the journalist since October 2, 2017. In a letter sent by Nuredini to media, he calls on all Kosovo citizens not to believe Thaçi-Mehmeti’s reporting. He said the journalist created panic among passengers and has personal aims to attack the agency because of her personal and the…

Journalist from Prizren, Refki Alija was verbally threatened by a local municipal official in the presence of another three officials. Emergency and security director in Prizren municipality threatened journalist and his family. The incident occurred in the office of director.

BIRN’s journalist, Taulant Osmani was verbally attacked by several protestors while hew was covering a protest in city center of Gjilan. The protest involved two divisive groups related to the removal of the statue of WWII soldier, to be replaces by a Kosovo Albanian nationalist figure and guerilla fighter, Idriz Seferi. Osmani was verbally threatened, insulted and pushed, and there was an attempt of attack by several protestors. The protest was called by a civil society in…

It is devastating that this incident happened on November 2nd the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists. This kind of attitude of the institutions towards journalists is completely unacceptable and aims to intimidate journalists and encourage self-censorship when reporting on certain court proceedings. Blerim Uka from Pristina and Ibrahim Mahmuti from Skopje were held at the police station for six hours, with the explanation that they were filming…

Investigative Journalist and Chief Editor of Insajderi.com, Vehbi Kajtazi, was physically assaulted by an identified suspect while he was getting out of cafe ‘Lounge’ on Friday afternoon in city centre, October 13th 2017, Kajtazi has received several punches causing light injuries and scratches and had to receive treatment at the Emergency Center in Pristina.

Editor-in-chief of “Insajderi.com” Vehbi Kajtazi informed the Association of Journalists of Kosovo to have received a death threat. Kajtazi said that he was threatened by MP Beke Berisha that, according to journalist, went to a restaurant which is owned by Kajtazi’s friend and sent the message: “Tell your friend that if he mentions my name again in newspaper, bullet in the head awaits you”.

Milaim Zeka, member of Parliament of Kosovo stated publicly that two journalists, Parim Olluri and Vehbi Kajtazi are Serbian secret agents that work in Kosovo to humiliate and denigrate Albanian national figures. Zeka, former journalist, continued in his Facebook status, that journalists are taking instructions from Serbia’s Secret Intelligence to spread untruths about Kosovo politicians.

Journalist Parim Olluri was attacked by three unknown persons late night of Wednesday, August 16th, 2017, while he was going home with his wife. She lost conscience from the shock of the attack. Both received medical treatment at Pristina hospital.

On 10.07.2017, around 12:15, KTV received a telephone call from the suspect who did not presented the identity but complained about the story related to property dispute within the family. The story was aired in KTV few days ago. The suspect aimed to scare the journalist by saying: “if the journalist deals again with the issue, tell him he is jeopardizing his head.”

Journalist of daily newspaper Koha Ditore, Salie Gajtani-Osmankaq was threatened verbally by a group of men while she was trying to report. Journalist went to a location to see herself as how some residents in a Pristina neighborhood were preparing to leave apartments for which the state considers them as usurpators. Residents have immediately verbally attacked the journalist threatening her that she cannot write any story about them. Journalist Gajtani, who was at the time…