The AJK condemns the ongoing campaign against the media and journalists by Prime Minister Kurti and Vetëvendosje
Continuing the four years of governance, the political party Vetëvendosje and its leader, Prime Minister Albin Kurti, have intensified unacceptable attacks on the media and journalists throughout the entire electoral campaign for the national elections of February 9.
In an interview with a local television station, Prime Minister Kurti stated that "portals are part of the Bermuda Triangle that want to sink Kosovo." Almost at all his election rallies in various cities, Kurti used derogatory and attacking language against the media, journalists, and commentators of television debates.
Journalist teams, including those from Klan Kosova and Nacionale, have been obstructed by officials of Vetëvendosje at several election rallies, in attempts to prevent reporting from the ground.
The Kosovo Journalists Association considers such attacks to be an unacceptable pressure on the media to do their work during such an important phase as the electoral campaign. The inciting language from the ruling party severely complicates the possibility of reporting. Vetëvendosje’s boycott of three national television stations also affects the provision of transparency and is an avoidance of accountability to an important part of the public.
The media has a legal obligation and an obligation to the public to provide its viewers/readers with the promises and programs of all political parties equally during election times.
