12/08/2025
We join the SafeJournalists Network, partners of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR), Reporters Without Borders (RSF), and Albanian media freedom organisations in expressing serious concern over the police blockade and subsequent events affecting Focus Media Group outlets, including News24, BalkanWeb, Panorama, and Gazeta Shqiptare.
The heavy-handed police action has so far been carried out under unclear legal grounds and without due process, seriously hindering media freedom in the country, as well as the livelihoods and employment status of 230 employees. Journalists, media workers, and support staff now face the risk of unemployment, with many already experiencing delayed salaries and unpaid social security and healthcare contributions.
We call upon Albanian authorities to immediately restore access, provide a full explanation of the operation’s legal basis and necessity, protect journalistic materials and infrastructure, safeguard labour rights, and ensure transparency and accountability.
We call on the ownership and management of the Focus Media Group to act with urgency to safeguard employees’ livelihoods and rights, honour all legal and contractual obligations, and secure temporary premises and continuity plans to protect staff and maintain access to information for the public, while engaging with authorities to resolve the dispute lawfully and transparently so as to minimise disruption to journalistic work and the public’s right to know.
The full statement can be accessed here 🔗tinyurl.com/2p9j2xhb
Signed,
SafeJournalists Network:
• Association of BH journalists
• Association of Journalists of Kosovo
• Association of Macedonian Journalists
• Croatian Journalists’ Association
• Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia
• Trade Union of Media of Montenegro
Reporters sans frontières / Reporters Without Borders / RSF
Media Freedom Rapid Response - MFRR Partners:
• European Federation of Journalists - EFJ
• European Centre for Press and Media Freedom ECPMF
• ARTICLE 19 Europe
• International Press Institute
• Free Press Unlimited
Civil society organisations in Albania:
• Center Science and Innovation for Development (SCiDEV)
• Këshilli Shqiptar i Medias - KSHM
• Asociacioni i Gazetarëve të Shqipërisë AGSH
• AWA - Albanian Woman in Audiovisual
• Amfora.al
• Association of Professional Journalists of Albania (APJA)
• Union of Journalists and Media Workers (SGPM)
• Komiteti Shqiptar i Helsinkit
• Albanian Center for Quality Journalism
• BIRN Albania
• Faktoje
• Unioni i Gazetareve Shqiptare
• Association of European Journalists, Albanian Section (AEJ)
• Citizens.al Channel
• Res Publica
Reporting Diversity Network