Journalists from Faktoje.al were prevented from observing ongoing works on a new hospital in Tirana.
Army forces were deployed outside the empty building which was once a university, and the journalists were told that it was a state of emergency, that the building site was a military zone and that there was an order that all media should be kept out.
Faktoje had previously attended the site to take photos of ongoing works on the hospital Prime Minister Edi Rama promised would be ready within 30 days to treat COVID-19 patients. Journalists from the fact-checking portal visited the site on several occasions and witnessed ongoing work but no signs of any medical staff or equipment, despite the deadline for its operation passing.
The portal attempted to ask questions to the press office of the Ministry of Health and from the coordinator for the right to information but they were not answered. Further questions were sent to the Ministry, but again there was no response.
It appears that the right to information and the law on information has been violated in this case. It is also unclear how and when the area was designated as a “military zone”.
