Two swimming pools at a resort belonging to media tycoon and businessman Irfan Hysenbelliu have been demolished by the state on Friday, with the latter claiming it was politically motivated and an attack on media freedom.
Diggers descended on the Prestige Resort in Durres to demolish structures that the National Inspectorate of Territory Protection say were built there without the relevant permissions.
“Today’s intervention for the return of about 4,000 square meters of sand and sea turned into concrete, in front of a resort where a part of the developments even inside the pine area are illegal constructions for profit purposes, was covered by the media of Mr Irfan Hysenbelliu as an attack on their editorial line,” the Interior Ministry declared on Facebook.
The ministry maintained the action is part of a wider campaign against informality and has nothing to do with the owner or his media’s editorial line.
“It is not the first time that the media News24, BalkanWeb and Panorama intend to cover their owner’s problems with the law, taking the role of the victim of press freedom.”
Hysenbelliu owns Balkanweb, Panorama, News24, and other businesses in construction, as well as Birra Korca and Birra Tirana.
In recent months, his media has issued a series of reports on alleged corruption and nepotism within the customs directorate. They accused the General Director of Taxes Ceno Klosi of corruption and illegal wealth, apparently after the latter ordered a tax audit on Tirana Beer. This found fiscal evasion and unpaid tax to the tune of EUR 1.7 million.
Additionally, in May, three tax offices filed orders at the National Business Centre to block the sale and purchase of Tirana Beer shares due to the unpaid tax obligations.
The government has denied claims of corruption within the customs department, as reported by Hysenbelliu’s media.
Regarding Friday’s demolitions, Vice President of the Hysenbelliu Group, Fabiola Hysenbelliu, said the government’s attack is directly due to their editorial line.
“The situation was planned by [Prime Minister] Edi Rama. He couldn’t negotiate for the editorial [line] of News 24 and Panorama. We are here to tell them; that we do not change the editorial.”
The spokesperson for the prime minister, Endri Fuga, told BIRN that today’s demolitions and the allegations of corruption by Hysenbelliu’s portal against government officials are not linked. “There is no connection,” he said.
MPs from the opposition have called it an attack on media freedom and “state violence”, accusing Rama of attacking Albanian businesses.
It is well reported by international media organisations that Albanian media owners with interests in businesses outside of the news sphere pose a threat to media freedom. They point to cases where powerful business owners give favourable coverage to politicians in return for advantages in conducting their businesses which are often in regulated sectors such as construction, finance, and education.
Analysis: Journalism in Albania is at the Whim of Media Owners
The latest US State Department report on human rights states: “Most private television owners used the content of their broadcasts to influence government action against their other businesses.”
On the flip side, blackmail is also often used by certain media to target other individuals, including politicians and businesses, in the hope of getting advertising revenue.
Meanwhile, political parties are known for using advertising and favours as a tool to pressure media and influence editorial lines.
The government has also come under fire for demolishing either legalised or partially legalised property to make way for developments.
In its 2018 Investment Climate Report, the US State Department noted: “There have been credible reports that the government has demolished several homes without due process as part of a broader campaign to demolish illegal construction.”
