Cases

On 14.03.2015 Vehbi Kajtazi, an investigative journalist of Koha Ditore newspaper, said that he was directly threatened by members of the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (Eulex) over his reports that senior mission officials were suspected of corruption.

AJK was informed that editor-in-chief of daily ‘Bota Sot”, Idriz Morina was threatened with his life by Kosovo Member of Parliament, Nuredin Lushtaku. According to Morina, he was threatened and insulted through telephone after publication of an article.

The local company “Devolli” carried an insulting campaign against journalist of Gazeta Express, Berat Buzhala after he published several articles related to above mentioned company. The portal has wrote about suspected wheat that the company was importing. Billboards across Kosovo portrayed a donkey with Buzhala’s family name in it.

Journalist Aleksandra Jovanoviv and cameraman Bojan Kosanin, both working for public broadcaster, RTK2 were physically assaulted by a group of persons during the coverage of protest.

Zekirja Shabani, editor at daily newspaper “Tribuna” was physically assaulted by the owner of the newspaper, Sejdi Demiri. Shabani was assaulted after he refused to sign the resignation letter offered by the newspaper leaders, in opposition to his valid contract and against Labour Law.

The most serious case is considered to be the case of the attempted murder against Milot Hasimja, journalist of Klan Kosova television who was attacked by a member of the public with a knife within his workplace in response to a new story where the attacker was reported upon.

Artan Haraqija, journalist of Indeksonline portal received death threats by text message after his appearance in “Rubikon” show of Kohavision television. Haraqija is known for his investigation about Islamic radicalism and extremism in Kosovo. This is not the first time Haraqija is threatened.

On September 11, 2014 Liridon Llapashtica was threatened from individuals presented as Kosovo police officers. Llapashtica while returning home from work, around 6:30pm, in Sali Nivica street, in Sunny Hill neighborhood, was stopped by two persons who were insulting and threatening him related to his journalistic work. Registration plates are known to police.

The AJK condemns threats against journalist Visar Duriqi of portal Gazeta Express. AJK announced for dozens of death threats, including threats of beheading by different people, because of his articles. Duriqi reported the case to police. AJK is following closely the situation and requests the Ministry of Interior to conduct a serious investigation against all parties involved.

A Board Member of the AJK, once vice president of the Independent Union of RTK, editor Arsim Halili has announced his dismissal from work by the management of the institution because of trade union activities and public denouncements of censorship cases, corruption and nepotism in the public broadcaster. Also, journalist Behare Bajraktari, also a member of the union leadership has announced it is suspended for 6 months. A first move was taken to dismissal of editor Lindita…

On July 2nd, 2014, Mefail Bajqinovci, journalist for private broadcaster KTV, reported to police to have received a telephone threat from an anonymous person. Bajqinovci runs a TV show which deals mainly with corruption and organized crime issues. He stated to receive the threat after his show which discussed high profile murders in Kosovo. Police investigation revealed that the call came from Dubrava prison.

On June 22nd, 2014, three journalists were attacked by unknown persons during a protest in Mitrovica that opposed the settlement of the barricade on the main city’s bridge that divides two ethnically sides. There were clashes between protestors and police. The journalists, Behar Mustafa from Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN), Faton Ismaili from Gazeta Express portal and Kajtaz Gecaj from daily newspaper Zëri were attacked by protestors. Mustafa received slight…

Cameraman of news agency Kosovapress, Kushtrim Gashi was covering an action of demolishing a building that Muje Rugova, former rector of University of Pristina has built it illegally. Rugova threatened the journalist and the cameraman Kushtrim Gashi physically attacked and pushed Gashi down the stairs of the building.

On 01.06.2014 AJK has received an appeal in of acting editor of Radio Kosova 2, Berat Miftari that he had been under psychological pressure by the director of Radio Kosovo, Azem Bujupi. The case was opened in the police.

The Koha Ditore journalist Musa Mustafa was physically assaulted by Brahim Haziri, grandson of the Mitrovica Mayor. The incident occurred while the journalist was interviewing protesters in front of the Municipal Assembly.

The camerawoman, Vlora Dervodeli was shooting a traffic accident in Fushë Kosovë. She was together with colleague journalist, Dibran Istrefi. A citizen that was part of the accident, attacked Dervodeli and kicked her in stomach. Camera was also damaged.